CDaniel525

I got my side pipes back from Jet-Hot and one of the tubes is bent at the flange and wont slip over the header pipe. The tube is bent at 2 spots, so it isnt and exact circle any more. I saw summit had a "tailpipe expander" but only expands to 3 7/8". Anyone have any ideas??
Thanks
Chris

Fevre

:smash:

L79vette

Exhaust shops work with 4" or 5" pipe all the time now for diesels. They would have an expander. Shouldn't charge much at all to straighten it.

The hammer's not a bad idea either.

stpman

I would think a muffler shop would do it for $5 or less. it would take about a minute

Steve :steering:

Wrencher

If it's bad, the diesel shops the way to go, but a ball peen hammer should do it IMHO.

Hans

KenSny

These are cheap and useful if you mess around with exhaust systems or are replacing mufflers. Local auto parts stores should have them also - might be cheaper than Summit.

munday

grenade

CDaniel525

a friend had an expander, but was only meant to go to 3 1/2" but picked up some extra long bolts and got it rigged up to possibly work.... only problem is the threaded rod may break while trying to turn it..... well see what happens tomorrow. If that doesnt work, ill try to bring it to a Midas that i know the owner.

isosceles

Autozone also loans them.. I don't know if you have those up there. I also don't know how large they expand to.

PRNDL

Those expanders can be useful for rounding out a pipe that is the right size, but it is very difficult to actually expand the pipe with one of those things attached to a wrench. At Midas they will have an expander that looks pretty much the same but is powered hydraulically and can turn your 2.5" pipe into 2.75" pipe!! I had a couple done there. MJ

UKPaul

:iagree: Definately. I bought an expander from SnapOn (guaranteed, blah, blah, BS BS BS) when I was making my exhaust system. I asked, repeatedly, if it would expand 2 1/2" st/st pipe & was assured that it would. First join I wanted to expand hit instant problems. Just at the point where I could feel the pipe starting to expand I could also feel (& hear) the thread on the bolt starting to go. Eventually I gave it that one last teweak & the bolt thread stripped. Long story short, an evening job ended up taking TWO WEEKS, the tool cost me $75, replacement high tensile bolts from a hardware shop (13 of the buggers) cost approx $50 & I'm still waiting (10 months later) for the SnapOn guarateed replacement tool. The tool itself looks like it'll do the job well, but for some reason they've made it with a poxy 3/8" bolt where a 5/8" bolt could have been used & might have had the strength to work OK.
For expanding stainless pipe get an exhaust shop to do it :yesnod:
One more thing: the pipe was supplied (& bent) by a company that make exhaust systems for F1 cars & they told me that the method I was using to anneal the tube prior to attempting to expand it was correct, so it's not like I was trying to expand work hardened metal :(
:cheers:

Vesa

Close the other end and blow in hard :beatdeadhorse:

comp

:lolg: :lolg:

Brown78

Chris, Take the pipe to any muffler shop. They can expand the pipe for you. They might charge you 10 or 20 bucks. :thumbs: I'm a welder and thats what I would do if you came to me with it. There price plus 25% or more for me. :hurray: :seeya Steve