Bending Exhaust Pipe - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

wxman1 · 11-10-2003, 03:35 AM

I'm going to install new exhaust pipes
on my 69 C10 P/U with 350/TH350.
I was wondering if anyone had ever bent their
own pipes?

I've thought about using something like this
that Harbor Freight sells. Any Ideas

Jim
Mt Juliet

*rage'nrat638* · 11-10-2003, 05:10 AM

the only way that i have bent pipe is to use the sawsall and cut a little pie shaped piece out ..bend it back together and weld it up...

worked for me but i have a mig welder...best thing i ever bought..

bender would be nice..but how many times will you use it???

Duallie · 11-10-2003, 05:41 AM

That bender is for bending heavywall PIPE, not thinwall exhaust tubing. It does make some excellent kinks, however. Don't waste your time with that bender.

tim m · 11-10-2003, 10:21 AM

Find an electrician with a Greenlee 855. It is a hydraulic bender that works with thinwall and hardwall. The only thing is that mine can only bend up to 2 inch.

wxman1 · 11-10-2003, 03:24 PM

My brother told me about a procedure
whereby you pack the pipe with sand
and then bend it. The sand supposedly keeps
the walls from collapsing. I suppose you could
also make some sort of homemade internal mandrel for the pipe to keep it from collapsing.

Has anybody ever tried this?

Jim
Mt Juliet

lukecp · 11-10-2003, 03:28 PM

Summit sells pre-bent sections of exhaust...usually mandrel bent too. So you can use rage 'n rat's advice and cut out the bend you need, then weld it into the section of pipe.

I'm lazy myself....i just go to the muffler shop

cableguy0 · 11-10-2003, 03:41 PM

just take it to the exhaust it will be cheaper and less aggrevating in the end or just do what i did and dont use any thing but straight pipe off the headers with mufflers dumpings just behind the cab. but you can only do this if you have one hell of a stereo and bad hearing to start with otherwise your gonna go deaf

Hotrod70C10 · 11-10-2003, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cableguy0
just take it to the exhaust it will be cheaper and less aggrevating in the end or just do what i did and dont use any thing but straight pipe off the headers with mufflers dumpings just behind the cab. but you can only do this if you have one hell of a stereo and bad hearing to start with otherwise your gonna go deaf

I have that same setup on mine right now.

I just did it because it was cheap. it cost me 60 bucks to have two pipe bent to tuck up as close to the frame as I could get them and installed. If you don't have a lot of money at the time then go this route but, You WILL end up changing it after a while because it is annoying. Just my .02

Cat Fuzz · 11-10-2003, 07:22 PM

If your not an experienced pipe bender, its better to take it down and have someone do it. Only cost me about $150, but they used my old mufflers.

rustyold69 · 11-10-2003, 07:29 PM

i bent my whole exhaust system in shop class. They have a big hydraulic bender that can take up to 3 1/2" pipe with ease

gr8scott51 · 11-10-2003, 07:40 PM

I used to bend pipe for the Navy. The sand method works, but it has to be DRY, you have to weld up the ends and then the pipe is normally bent using a torch.

To do a mandrel bend, you have to draw the mandrel out as the bend is made. This is done on a radial bender, using drawing wax on the mandrel. You can't just leave the mandrel in the pipe and cruch it, because you'll never get the mandrel out.

Conduit benders work fine, but there will be some crushing and wrinkling. Even most exhaust places will produce the same results, but they have the tools and experience to fit it correctly.

Having exhaust piping mandrel bent can get pretty expensive and not all shops can do it.

I guess I'd have to agree with the others. If you aren't going in to the pipe bending business, and the pre-bent stuff in the catalogs don't do what you want, take your rig to a muffler shop.

good luck, Scott

69sixpackbee · 11-10-2003, 09:50 PM

Heat it and beat it.....nuff said

gonebad2 · 11-10-2003, 10:06 PM

Go to the Summit catalog. They sell a prebent set of pipes made by Hooker. They are specific to your truck. You can order them to be hooked up to stock manifolds or headers. They only come in a longbed version but I cut about 18" out of the middle and workded great. They cost less than $120.00. Mufflers not included. I went with flowmaster delta series.

oldtrucknut · 11-10-2003, 10:26 PM

mandrel bent pipes are much better because they don't have those kinks in them that reduce exhaust flow. Mandrel bent pipes really do make a difference in power.

11-10-2003, 03:35 AM	#1
wxman1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: mt juliet, tennessee, usa Posts: 237	Bending Exhaust Pipe I'm going to install new exhaust pipes on my 69 C10 P/U with 350/TH350. I was wondering if anyone had ever bent their own pipes? I've thought about using something like this that Harbor Freight sells. Any Ideas Jim Mt Juliet

11-10-2003, 05:41 AM	#3
Duallie Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Nikiski, Alaska Posts: 477	That bender is for bending heavywall PIPE, not thinwall exhaust tubing. It does make some excellent kinks, however. Don't waste your time with that bender. __________________ Just as if I knew what I was doin'

11-10-2003, 10:21 AM	#4
tim m Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Gilbert Az Posts: 286	Find an electrician with a Greenlee 855. It is a hydraulic bender that works with thinwall and hardwall. The only thing is that mine can only bend up to 2 inch. __________________ 1970 k10 1971 C10 Gilbert Az

11-10-2003, 03:28 PM	#6
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	Summit sells pre-bent sections of exhaust...usually mandrel bent too. So you can use rage 'n rat's advice and cut out the bend you need, then weld it into the section of pipe. I'm lazy myself....i just go to the muffler shop __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

11-10-2003, 03:41 PM	#7
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,948	just take it to the exhaust it will be cheaper and less aggrevating in the end or just do what i did and dont use any thing but straight pipe off the headers with mufflers dumpings just behind the cab. but you can only do this if you have one hell of a stereo and bad hearing to start with otherwise your gonna go deaf __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

11-10-2003, 05:10 AM	#2
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	the only way that i have bent pipe is to use the sawsall and cut a little pie shaped piece out ..bend it back together and weld it up... worked for me but i have a mig welder...best thing i ever bought.. bender would be nice..but how many times will you use it???

11-10-2003, 03:24 PM	#5
wxman1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: mt juliet, tennessee, usa Posts: 237	My brother told me about a procedure whereby you pack the pipe with sand and then bend it. The sand supposedly keeps the walls from collapsing. I suppose you could also make some sort of homemade internal mandrel for the pipe to keep it from collapsing. Has anybody ever tried this? Jim Mt Juliet

11-10-2003, 07:22 PM	#9
Cat Fuzz My son, my joy. Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 463	If your not an experienced pipe bender, its better to take it down and have someone do it. Only cost me about $150, but they used my old mufflers.

11-10-2003, 07:29 PM	#10
rustyold69 student wrench turner Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: wrightstown, wisconsin Posts: 192	i bent my whole exhaust system in shop class. They have a big hydraulic bender that can take up to 3 1/2" pipe with ease __________________ 1969 Chevy C-10 with 250 L6 2002 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Duramax with banks six gun

11-10-2003, 07:40 PM	#11
gr8scott51 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bremerton, WA Posts: 1,839	pipe bending I used to bend pipe for the Navy. The sand method works, but it has to be DRY, you have to weld up the ends and then the pipe is normally bent using a torch. To do a mandrel bend, you have to draw the mandrel out as the bend is made. This is done on a radial bender, using drawing wax on the mandrel. You can't just leave the mandrel in the pipe and cruch it, because you'll never get the mandrel out. Conduit benders work fine, but there will be some crushing and wrinkling. Even most exhaust places will produce the same results, but they have the tools and experience to fit it correctly. Having exhaust piping mandrel bent can get pretty expensive and not all shops can do it. I guess I'd have to agree with the others. If you aren't going in to the pipe bending business, and the pre-bent stuff in the catalogs don't do what you want, take your rig to a muffler shop. good luck, Scott __________________ Silence is golden, duct tape is silver. - Scott

11-10-2003, 09:50 PM	#12
69sixpackbee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Sabinal, Texas Posts: 1,706	Heat it and beat it.....nuff said

11-10-2003, 10:06 PM	#13
gonebad2 Merciless Butcher Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: CC Nevada Posts: 1,447	Go to the Summit catalog. They sell a prebent set of pipes made by Hooker. They are specific to your truck. You can order them to be hooked up to stock manifolds or headers. They only come in a longbed version but I cut about 18" out of the middle and workded great. They cost less than $120.00. Mufflers not included. I went with flowmaster delta series. __________________ Your Bought And Sold....I Got Your Soul!

11-10-2003, 10:26 PM	#14
oldtrucknut 67-72 truck surgeon Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 155	mandrel bent pipes are much better because they don't have those kinks in them that reduce exhaust flow. Mandrel bent pipes really do make a difference in power. __________________ 1969 Chevy C10 1993 Toyota Camry LE 1999 Ford F250 Super Duty 4x4 diesel 2008 Dodge Charger Super Bee 1953 International R182



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