SC plumbing size

[Jonny Cash]

After talking with a few people, and thinking about it alot, I came to the conclusion that Id be better off with 3" piping opposed to 2 1/2" for a few reasons. Ive read a few threads about this on the board and alot of it makes little sense to me.

A guy I know had a whole pile of aluminum 3" blower piping. Alot of it was leftover peices from mustang procharger kits. Alot of it was kits never finished/used. Some high quality stuff. This is what I will end up using, instead of the horrible light guage steel 2 1/2" SS piping.

At first I thought to myself that I would loose a pound or so of boost if I went with a wider diameter pipe (only a 9psi blower), but comparing the two, I realized the 3" aluminum was way better. Now that the front cover is off, we have a much better idea of where the piping will be routed. It actually DOES fit in front of the radiator!! This time the piping will be 16" shorter than the SS piping, and the bypass valve will be 12" away from the blower. The new piping will be short enough now, where I may change it, and make it a draw through system for easiier tuning. This Im hyped about.

It, #1. Its aluminum, and dissapates heat alot faster that steel. It almost acts as its own cooling system on a low boost app.

2. Is aluminum, so does not rust from condensation. Im sure noone wants rust particles flying through their motor.

3. The actual bends themselves are alot less restrictive due to a bigger diameter. Which will ultimatley result in a cooler boost charge.

4. The SC inlet/outlet, and TB diameters are all 3"

If anyone has anything to add to this, or disagree, feel free. Anyone out there that is DIYing it. should consider this. SC or Turbo.. doesent matter. Wheres Chris D with his 2" heavy exhaust shop piping? You BUTCHER!!!

 

[TYSHO]

How is your piping routed?

FWIW, the SS piping goes from 2.5 inch to 3 inch.

 

[TYSHO]

I was refering to the old SS piping for the powerdine. I know what they use for the vortech kit.. The Vortech pipes are aluminum anyway right?

I was just stating the size of the Vortech style piping for you to consider. IMO, 3 inches is too big from the blower to the TB...that's a lot of volume!

No, they're steel.

 

[Jonny Cash]

I was just stating the size of the Vortech style piping for you to consider. IMO, 3 inches is too big from the blower to the TB...that's a lot of volume!

No, they're steel.

ahh. Well then if they were aluminum, Id do everything I could to track them down. If I could use someones kit as a template, I could redo it in aluminum. It would probably cool it down some.

 

[TYSHO]

ahh. Well then if they were aluminum, Id do everything I could to track them down. If I could use someones kit as a template, I could redo it in aluminum. It would probably cool it down some.

There's a couple things you'll run into when trying to reproduce them, the main one is finding the funnel like opening to the MAF. If you make one of aluminum, it can be expanded out like the SS style but maybe not all of the way to the 3.5 inch.

The next thing is the welding. It's hard to find a good pipe maker who has enough experience to weld the piping and not have the huge welding lumps on the outside.

FWIW, I have a guy who is going to make me some piping; I already have one for the brakets. Below is a picture of a SHOShop one and one I had produced, neither are powder coated yet.

http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4045753


You wouldn't believe the price for both pieces of the piping, couplers, and clamps if I could buy at least 1000.

 

[jeanrw2000]

ahh. Well then if they were aluminum, Id do everything I could to track them down. If I could use someones kit as a template, I could redo it in aluminum. It would probably cool it down some.

make sure you post some pictures when you are done.

FWIW, I have a guy who is going to make me some piping; I already have one for the brakets. Below is a picture of a SHOShop one and one I had produced, neither are powder coated yet.

http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4045753

those brackets look pretty good.

 

[Jonny Cash]

The next thing is the welding. It's hard to find a good pipe maker who has enough experience to weld the piping and not have the huge welding lumps on the outside.

THats the easy part. Theres alot of talented guys willing to do custom work for cheap.

FWIW, I have a guy who is going to make me some piping; I already have one for the brakets. Below is a picture of a SHOShop one and one I had produced, neither are powder coated yet.

So could you sell me one, or let me copy it for my setup?

make sure you post some pictures when you are done.

oh I will

 

[somedude_001]

for reference the powerstroke ford engine uses 2.5" charge pipe. if the pipe is free you could go for it but it is definately overkill.

I think even toolman is/was usins 2.5" charge pipe. I don't know what tony is up to because of his sneakyness.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

yeah, 3" is HUGE.

For my SC project I stuck with 2.25. Simply to reduce post blower intake volume.

 

[TYSHO]

So could you sell me one, or let me copy it for my setup?

Well, one is going on my car and the other is being used again to make more brackets, so I have no extra right now. There should be kits sometime next year from someone, though!

 

[Off Road SHO]

yeah, 3" is HUGE.

I went with 3" on the Other Woman for two reasons: 1) I had a bunch of Ford PowerStroke stuff lying around, and 2) I thought I overheard The Other Woman saying that size DOES matter. (So I bought this special vacuum pump)

Tom

 

[Jonny Cash]

I went with 3" on the Other Woman for two reasons: 1) I had a bunch of Ford PowerStroke stuff lying around,

for reference the powerstroke ford engine uses 2.5" charge pipe.

Why wouldnt the aftermarket for powerstroke just keep it the same diameter for an upgrade if it was better?

And if 2.5" is so much more effecient then why is it so hard to track it down in aluminum, and way EASY to track it down in 3".

Not for nothing, every mustang blower kit I see is 3"

All there is to it for the guys out there going custom... Aluminum is more expensive, and harder to weld. Thats why the butcher shops out there just fab up steel. Everyone out there still using steel without an intercooler is shorting themselves.

Take a peice of alum. foil out of the oven, then take the cookie sheet out of the oven.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Why wouldnt the aftermarket for powerstroke just keep it the same diameter for an upgrade if it was better?

easy:

availability

And if 2.5" is so much more effecient then why is it so hard to track it down in aluminum, and way EASY to track it down in 3".

Dont make the mistake of assuming there is a relation between efficiency and availability. Because there isnt. People generally use what they can, can afford, and what is easily accesible.

 

[Jonny Cash]

easy:

availability



Dont make the mistake of assuming there is a relation between efficiency and availability. Because there isnt. People generally use what they can, can afford, and what is easily accesible.

idk kenny. If you say so.

Usually when something is easily accesible.. That means people are buying/using it. When demand for such things go down, they dont make it in bulk, therefore its harder to find.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Well, 5" tip fart cannons must perform excellent, since they are big sellers and are readily available. Same with open element cone filters.

The fact is, is that the majority of the "automotive savy" community is still fixated on the typical "bigger is better" scene. When, in fact, it is not.

People follow trends. Always have, and always will.

 

[Jonny Cash]

Well, 5" tip fart cannons must perform excellent, since they are big sellers and are readily available. Same with open element cone filters.

The fact is, is that the majority of the "automotive savy" community is still fixated on the typical "bigger is better" scene. When, in fact, it is not.

People follow trends. Always have, and always will.

oh god, he said 5" fart cannons Are you serious?

While I agree with you about bigger not nessecarily being better, I think your missing my point.

Im not 100% about this, but I think the lesser restriction in the bends with the 3" could possibly make up for a sharper bend of a smaller pipe. Due to it being wider, there is almost NO restriction whatsoever. Its pretty much a straight shot. Way more free flowing than yours, and the SS. This is only a .5" increase. I cant understand how that is "huge". Were not talking about a whole lot of pipe here.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

This is only a .5" increase. I cant understand how that is "huge". Were not talking about a whole lot of pipe here.

Diameter is mute.

Think cross-section and volume.

The cross section of a 2.5" pipe is 4.9 square inches.

The cross section of a 3" pipe is 7 square inches.

That is a 30% difference in just cross-section (correct me if Im wrong.... its been a while since I took an algebra class )

Then think of volume....

Lets assume the pipe is just 12 inches long.

A 2.5" diameter, 12" long pipe = 59 cubic inches of volume.

A 3" diameter, 12" long pipe = 84 cubic inches of volume.

So, when figuring volume, you have also have a 30% difference.


So yes, 30% increase IS a huge difference.

Thats like making a 300hp motor make 400hp.
Or our 220hp V6's making 300hp