anyone on here a professional exhaust builder?

[craveman85]

ive finally decided what i want to do with my life. for a few years ive known it was going to be something with cars and trucks but took me a little while to peg what i really wanted to do with myself. i want to build custom performance exhaust systems. not like monroe muffler type garbage i want to make my own headers, mufflers, complete systems ect. anyone know how i can get started in this? i dont really want to do much of anything else with the cars just the exhaust. im going to pick up a mig welder soon and start practicing. its been about 3 years since ive welded but was pretty good at mig. horrible at arc. going to make my own muffler first and then try to make a longtube header for my 95 2.3l ranger. looking for some good advice nothing else. thanks.

 

[gwaii]

if you want to do profieeional looking work,forget the mig.it's good for tacking but too rough for header fab,even in the best hands.practice your tig.i like to use 1 /16 stainless filler when making headers,it flows really nice.

 

[James86]

Man thats gorgeous.... wanna make me some 3.0 headers with EGR fitting?

 

[gwaii]

i can build anything,but it's not cheap.

 

[craveman85]

how much is a tig thats pretty much only going to be used on exhaust going to run me. what size should i go with?

 

[gwaii]

tig units are coming down in price as the get more popular,but for prices you should check with a local welding supply.if only doing exhaust,200 amps max is plenty,but remember a bigger machine that's working further from it's maximum will last longer and has more in reserve if you want to try a heavier weld.mine is a miller 300 amp unit,water cooled torch.been pretty reliable for the 15 years i've had it,and will handle 1/2"alum fine.go with a foot pedal for amp control if working at a bench for the most part.a 120 volt mig is handy for tacking,as it's cheap,small and portable.i also have a big mig machine but the little one gets lots of use.

 

[craveman85]

looks like my hopes and dreams are crushed already. to run power for a decent sized welder to my garage i would have to change the lines from the pole, the meter box, the breaker box and run about 50 foot of wire to the garage. damn old houses.

 

[James86]

i can build anything,but it's not cheap.

Well was kinda curious since only JBA seems to carry 3.0 headers with an EGR fitting. On the forums and on Rogue Performance, people who do have headers on their 3.0's seems completely satisfied with them, but I'm not hip with deleting the EGR (a CEL would bug the hell out of me and I'm not unconvinced smog testing won't ever become nation wide) and JBA seems to want well over $400:

http://cpwstore.carpartswholesale.c...Headers/1999/XLT/6_Cyl_3-dot-0L/J211647S.html

Sometimes I've seen a knock off to the JBA's pop on eBay once in a rare while but they're usually some brand I've never heard of for less than $300. I'll pay what I need to I guess, but I'm not crazy about paying for a name. Anybody else around here fab headers? I kinda like the shorty look of the JBA's and it'd definitely take less material than the setup on that Jaguar V-12 you posted. What's that out of anyways?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

looks like my hopes and dreams are crushed already. to run power for a decent sized welder to my garage i would have to change the lines from the pole, the meter box, the breaker box and run about 50 foot of wire to the garage. damn old houses.

I've not actually done the whole job, only run new lines from pole to garage. Then I got the electrician to do the final tie in. You might be able to save some coin by doing some or all of the grunt labor first. Check with the city inspectors, they can tell you what you can and can't do for yourself.Here's a link to get you started on research;http://www.doityourself.com/scat/electricandelectron
Good luck,
Richard

 

[gwaii]

Well was kinda curious since only JBA seems to carry 3.0 headers with an EGR fitting. On the forums and on Rogue Performance, people who do have headers on their 3.0's seems completely satisfied with them, but I'm not hip with deleting the EGR (a CEL would bug the hell out of me and I'm not unconvinced smog testing won't ever become nation wide) and JBA seems to want well over $400:

http://cpwstore.carpartswholesale.c...Headers/1999/XLT/6_Cyl_3-dot-0L/J211647S.html

Sometimes I've seen a knock off to the JBA's pop on eBay once in a rare while but they're usually some brand I've never heard of for less than $300. I'll pay what I need to I guess, but I'm not crazy about paying for a name. Anybody else around here fab headers? I kinda like the shorty look of the JBA's and it'd definitely take less material than the setup on that Jaguar V-12 you posted. What's that out of anyways?

an easier and cheaper way to go might be to get the off-the-shelf headers and just add the fitting for the egr.even for the v6 a full custom set could run up to $1200,so i always tell people that if anything even close is being factory made that fits their needs to go that way.usually when i make a set of headers it's for an all out comp vehicle or other custom where there is no other choice.the jag headers are worth about $3500(try finding those at jegs)the engine is being set up for a hot rod gt6 i'm putting together for kicks.

 

[craveman85]

damn thread jackers

 

[gwaii]

 

[James86]

damn thread jackers

If I see something nice, I'm obligated to compliment and enquire.... those were some sweet looking headers ya know...

 

[craveman85]

guess since its going to cost more for wire than a welder im going to pick up a set of oxy acetylene torches and go that route instead.

 

[gwaii]

takes a bit of practice but when you get good at it you can do beautiful welds that look almost as good as tig.it's a great way to start off if you have patience.