flex hose, suitable?

[NMB2]

is high quality flex hose suitable for using on up and down pipes? I am concerned a little bit with the heat, and also the pressure on the up-pipe side. It seems to me that it might be ok, but I searched around and didnt find much on it.

 

[LCAM-01XA]

What do you consider high-quality flex pipe? The stuff you find at parts store sure as heck ain't, the stuff big trucks use maybe okay tho, if you can find it in the 2-1/2" or 2-1/4" size for the up-pipes...

 

[DeepRoots]

O'reilly's carries some that is ok-pretty good.
I would just plan on replacing it every 4 years or so.

 

[NMB2]

the one was looking at is 2.5" ID. I actually dont have an issue making the downpipe for exhaust. the U-pipe is just the one that might be a pain. Thanks for the help

 

[LCAM-01XA]

I have heard of quite a few people using flex pipe for a down pipe, so you should be good there. DeepRoots, will flex pipe work for up-pipes?

 

[93turbo_animal]

any flex pipe I have ever seen would not work for up pipes as they are not sealed enough for preasure just open flow

 

[NMB2]

thats what I was looking for, and a concern I had. I guess I will just use a flex pipe to mock up the up-pipe then bend one to match. It may not be as bad as it looks once I start putting it together, I just am going off of looking at the flattened factory one I cut off when I pulled the turbo. Ordered both up and down flanges today, $30 shipped for both of em, so maybe I will start putting this thing together this weekend.

 

[93turbo_animal]

If you are talking about the down pipe that goes from the turbo to the tail pipe then yes the high quality stainless steel flex pipe like the big trucks use would be ok the up pipes from manifold to turbo then no you need solid pipe

 

[Hyde]

I had looked into this for a while, for uppipes I think the pressure and extreme heat cycles would give them a very short life.

 

[DeepRoots]

regarding perfect sealing.
I had a minor leak once... only noticed because the turbo built no boost at all. Found a small amount of black soot near the leak.

it will make a turbo very useless very quick

 

[dansvan]

All the small ridges and valleys in flex tubing really hinder flow as well.

 

[zpd307]

when i di dmy 3 inch flex pipe downpipe, i noticed that the exhaust was a lot louder...... i never did check into what was leaking before i sold it. if i had the time, i would have mocked up the downpie with the flex and then took it somewhere to get bent. the truck did gain some power with the 3 inch flex.....