What kind of metal is our mufflers made of?
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
What kind of metal is our mufflers made of?
What kind of metal is the axle-back made of? Thinking of recycling my stock ones since I can't seem to sell them.
#6
Team Owner
Member Since: Jun 2005
Location: Northern, VA
Posts: 46,111
Received 2,485 Likes
on
1,947 Posts
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Quite awhile back, most OE stainless exhausts were the less-expensive 400 series---good but not great. And all the aftermarket ones were 300 series (I see Corsa's gone to a different, higher grade I think, and Borla doesn't even say which grade any longer except that it's in the 300 series).
#7
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Oct 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Posts: 40,131
Received 8,960 Likes
on
5,346 Posts
What ever they have been making them out of they have been lasting a long time. I haven't had to replace a muffler on a Corvette since I had my C3s back in the 70s. Even the ones on my 03 Tahoe are still in good shape after having salt and sand being blown all over them through 10 winters.
Bill
Bill
#8
Melting Slicks
According to the 2012-Corvette-Order-Guide.pdf the standard equipment exhaust is "aluminized stainless-steel with 3" stainless steel tips".
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...rder-Guide.pdf
.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...rder-Guide.pdf
.
#10
Team Owner
According to the 2012-Corvette-Order-Guide.pdf the standard equipment exhaust is "aluminized stainless-steel with 3" stainless steel tips".
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...rder-Guide.pdf
.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...rder-Guide.pdf
.
#11
Race Director
Member Since: Sep 2007
Location: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
Posts: 16,556
Received 2,062 Likes
on
1,506 Posts
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
#12
Simply put, without getting too in-depth, even 304 will rust! 316 contains carbon, which has higher rust resistance and material strength than the non-carbon 304.
#13
Race Director
Member Since: Sep 2007
Location: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
Posts: 16,556
Received 2,062 Likes
on
1,506 Posts
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
And 316L is low carbon for even more corrosion resistance.
#14
No, there is a gun that they scan the metal with and can tell you exactly what properties are in the metal and how much percentage. Dont know if all scrap yards use them but I deal with all types of steel fittings and sometimes we have to have these certifications done to fittings for customers that buy fittings for oilfield related items.
#16
Melting Slicks
Member Since: May 2012
Location: One of the Edema Ruh
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 0
Received 45 Likes
on
39 Posts
No, there is a gun that they scan the metal with and can tell you exactly what properties are in the metal and how much percentage. Dont know if all scrap yards use them but I deal with all types of steel fittings and sometimes we have to have these certifications done to fittings for customers that buy fittings for oilfield related items.
And for the record some stainless is magnetic so that doesn't always work.
Last edited by Kvothe; 10-30-2012 at 04:56 PM.
#17
An illustration, when someone erroneously suggest to use "0000" steel wool to polished Borla/Corsa tips, unless the removal of steel wool dust is absolute 100%, otherwise those tips will have rusted spot that will lead to pitting. In addition, any iron oxide in the air that landed on those "rust free" tips, if left protected, will suffered the same consequences!
#20
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Feb 2010
Location: Clearwater Florida
Posts: 1,046
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes
on
8 Posts
300 series (sometimes referred to as 18-8 stainless) is really the most appropriate for an exhaust because is most resistant to corrosion and it is probably the least expensive, unless it is 316L (low carbon for ultimate corrosion resistance like metal orthopedic implants). 400 series is stronger, but less corrosion resistant and more expensive because heat treatment is required.