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Drag Racing Discussions => Front Engine Dragsters => Topic started by: wideopen231 on October 21, 2021, 02:52:51 PM

Title: aluminum exhaust
Post by: wideopen231 on October 21, 2021, 02:52:51 PM
Anyone here ever seen a set of aluminum zoomies? You know me always looking for something different to to try.
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: JEFF/21C on October 21, 2021, 03:42:57 PM
Way back in some mag they showed someone who had tried for weght loss and they had melted
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER on October 21, 2021, 05:18:43 PM
In the '60s Pontiac used cast aluminum exhaust manifolds on their SS BBP motors.
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: tcoupekyle on October 21, 2021, 05:30:46 PM
Idk for certain…. But I’m certain they’d melt. 😂
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: wideopen231 on October 21, 2021, 08:40:39 PM
huge portion of turbo guys are running aluminum piping,lot hotter. Heat coming out of exuast just came off top of a aluminum piston. I guess we are about to find out. Only about 125 of tubing and few hours with welder to see if works.If so its 14 lbs off car.
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: wideopen231 on October 21, 2021, 09:31:36 PM
My heads have 3/4" aluminum plates that are port matched and extend the ports and increase flow.Plan is to weld tubes to them,strap tubes togetehr and run strap bacl tp plate.Same design as a set of fuel car headers.

As long as I do not blow them off and run over them it is just experiment.Spent lot more trying something.Some worked out and some are on shelf.
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: tcoupekyle on October 22, 2021, 03:16:49 AM
I dig that! Let me know what happens!
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: JEFF/21C on October 22, 2021, 03:41:21 PM
I've run header adpter plates with no problem, there are different grades of aluninum and heat treat but welding/ heating remove the heat treat but you won't know if you don't try!
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: wideopen231 on October 22, 2021, 07:10:27 PM
Just remember when they become std issue. Who did it first. I have list of those items and never get credit.
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER on October 24, 2021, 02:20:07 PM
http://www.pontiacparadise.com/parts-id/exhaust-manifolds.php
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: wideopen231 on October 24, 2021, 02:36:25 PM
THOSE LONG TUBE HEADERS HAVE TO HAVE LOT MORE VIBRATION  than a short set of zoomies would ever see.  Tubing should be here mid week.New set on by weekend and good amount of testing in drive.If weather allows local track has a TNT the next weekend and plans are to test car and aluminum zoomies will be on it. If I get any shake it will be good test and that seems to be easy to get right now NLOL.
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: tcoupekyle on October 24, 2021, 03:00:00 PM
Cool let us know!
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: lake_harley on October 24, 2021, 03:48:01 PM
I had the chance to meet the builder and look at his ultralight aircraft that had aluminum "shorty" exhaust stacks on the 1/2 VW engine it used. The builder was weight conscious to say the least, and as a result his plane came in at just under the ultralight maximum allowable weight of 254#. It was an all aluminum plane and many argue that hitting that weight goal was impossible considering all of the "features" it had on it. Cool plane and I don't think the builder was a liar!

A quick search showed the melting point of aluminum at 1221 degrees F. The header tubes would be dissipating heat pretty rapidly but I would think EGT's might perhaps flirt with that temp? Beyond that EGT might bring on bigger problems than a zoomie melting down.

Lynn   
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: wideopen231 on October 24, 2021, 05:13:09 PM
Question/ What would you think has higher heat. Piston or exhaust tube? I am not saying there is noway I could melt the tubes down. If there is a way to destroy it I can usually find it when 25 others can not. No way the he11 I will try it attitude has anything to do with it.
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER on October 25, 2021, 05:47:30 AM
To be fair, the underside of a piston is continually cooled by oil splashing against the bottom side and an intermittent cool inlet charge every fourth cycle.

Were it me, I would only build one bank to try at first.
And add some sort of tether.
That way you could only be "half wrong" at the most.
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: wideopen231 on October 25, 2021, 07:22:09 AM
Agree 100%. At the same time exhaust is hanging out in the wind at a good rate of speed. While at idle most MFI runs on the rich side. Very little restriction on zoomies, well no restrictions. Hey I may very well melt them,but figure at most it will be a hole in them. Can always throw the heavy steel units back on.
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: BK on October 30, 2021, 06:09:08 PM
I'm thinking if the pipes are short and straight it would work.
If they have a turn close to the port it will burn through.
If they have any kind of length they will crack.
Just my guess.
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: wideopen231 on October 31, 2021, 01:27:29 PM
Well if short turn close to head burns threw we will  know shortly. Just got tubes in.Since these are test run and I could not get 120* bends and 135* looks like shyt. I bought 180 bends and cut them iin half. SO its a 85 dollar gable. Man welding 3/4" ti 1/8 tibe w/o blowing threw is nerve racking.  Hey 1t almost 20 lbs difference when all piece where here to weigh I will try it. Hey aluminum lug nuts hold the wheels on a TF car and someone had to be first to try that too. LOL
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: lake_harley on October 31, 2021, 03:53:11 PM
Probably don't need to suggest it, but keep the puddle and heat mostly on the thick metal and let the puddle flirt with and "spill over" to the thinner tubes. I realize that's easier to say than actually do and still get good penetration. I might be preaching to the choir since you might be a certified welder. :-X

Lynn
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: wideopen231 on October 31, 2021, 05:28:40 PM
Lots say I am Certified oh wait that is certifiable. Not harldy on welding. I do fair job.Yes I knew the thick first.Mn it takes some heat to get the the 3/4 melting.I did cut a groove into plate,set tube into it.Giving me a edge to melt first that has to flow to the tube and it helps.
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: lake_harley on October 31, 2021, 07:48:50 PM
Looking forward to seeing the finished product. If the welds aren't exactly a "stack of dimes", just don't take any close ups. 8)

Lynn
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: wideopen231 on May 16, 2022, 03:35:56 PM
 Well been side tracked for while and to some point still am. But while talking with another racer and he had doubts too. I thought hey lets test melt point. I rigged up one of the tubes mounted a temp sensor in it. Took a torch blew flame down tube ran it to 1300 about 200 above cylinder exhaust temps. ran it up and down 3 times. No probelms yet. I held temp at 1300 plus for 60 seconds per shot,lot more than a run or it will never see 1100.LOL Just an update on a crazy idea. Hey almost 20 lbs and money already spent I don't have a choice.LOL
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: tcoupekyle on May 20, 2022, 04:56:13 PM
Hahaha I like the thought process for sure
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: wideopen231 on May 20, 2022, 07:45:14 PM
Thats funny. My wife says my thoughts normally scare her. Then I told her I keep the bad stuff in. For some reason that did not comfort her.
Title: Re: aluminum exhaust
Post by: tcoupekyle on May 22, 2022, 05:14:24 PM
Hahahaha my wife probably thinks the same about me….