tube bender - revisited....

[fiero308]

now that the fateful moment looms a bit closer I am asking who might be interested in custom pipe bending; the tube bender I have in mind will (initially) do 1-1/2" 180 degree bends on a 6" centerline radius. That is NOT the tightest you will ever see; a super-tight bend on a true mandrel bender  would probably do it on a 3 or 4" centreline radius. Still it is pretty good and a MUCH higher quality bend than the typical muffler shop job. And typically once the bend is made then the tube is chopped at an appropriate place and rewelded to the desired configuration.
So..........  I want to see if anyone is going to be interested in getting some tube bent; remember that it would be handy for structural (it will bend heavy stuff) or even a hollow sway bar etc., but it is expensive and I am hoping to offset a bit of the cost.

Any interest now that times and weather and projects are a bit clearer?
tia, all!!!!

[FieroDough]

1.5"  if it were biger (2.5") i'd be all over that.

what does a die cost? and what sizes do they come in? (I want to make some cold air intakes as well)

cheers!
Eric

[fiero308]

I am looking at getting a die that will do primary pipes; intakes, exhausts and also is a good size for frame reinforcement pieces; that is why 1 1/2" for starters.
The biggest die I can get for this particular bender is 2" and I have to get the heavy duty unit to handle that, which I will.
With the short lengths we run the most inportant thing is to try to minimize pressure drops and so good planning and "REAL" equal lengths (if possible) are going to be the order of the day.
This bender will handle roll-cage thickness material which is why it stops at 2" diameter; that is pretty heavy stuff.  The stock 2.8 exhausts are barely over 1" dia for the primaries and 1-1/2 should be good for most of the common swaps; 3.4 and 3.8 liters.  It is what I will be using on my 3.4 twin cam swap..............  
(just became the proud owner of a 3.4 TDC with Getrag 284 5 spd, computer and wiring harness......... )
........so take pity on me............

[FieroBUZZ]

I think Eric and I will be slightly bigger.  The outlet at the manifold to downpipe is 3".  From that I'll go down to 2.5 thru to the tips as my tips are at least that.
3.4...3.4....3.4    woohoo!!!!

[fiero308]

big off-topic item here....
re: 3.4 - it is something that has been on my mind since I first saw it and I  know I just have to go thru the exercise of owning one or I will always wonder.
But it is for the long-term version of my project, not the near term as I intend to fully rebuild it for turbo and to last and be reliable.
re: tube bender; yes, you guys have a nice size manifold to work with; I have a name or two of places in TO that do mandrel bending but it is NOT cheap so let me know and I will see if I can dig something up.  I have even BIGGER exhaust ports to deal with (amazingly large!!!) so will have to do something creative there.......
I am planning on doing custom intake, exhaust and frame reinforcement for now.  I MIGHT use the 2" bender (dies) when I get it, to make collectors but will think about that one. I am also going to a turbo charger which is a different deal than you, too.  But one step at a time.
HEY! time for a new byline/moniker for me??

[fiero308]

this is sort of related to tube bending......... this is the exh port that I will have to match - HOW (survey says - "I don't know...")
Oddball shape and big size. out comes the hacksaw and hammer....
sort of connected to the statement..... "and now the fun begins..."
what have I done?  
 

[WillEV]

Princess auto sell a pipe bender for $99 hydralic, bends pipes up to 2", and come with 5-6 dies

[fiero308]

for what it is worth, I already bought and returned that ......... thing.
the dies actually are not all that bad but the method leaves a LOT to be desired..... I am also thinking of just buying their dies and MAKING a bender but I would end up spending a fair bit (with hydraulics and metal working etc) and I DO have sorta limited time available (between naps and Sens playoff games...   )!!!!

I would not suggest to anyone that they will get decent results with that bender. It has a cheap price tag and that is the main appeal. IF you try to use it you will see why.

[WillEV]

Sorry my mistake
Reg.$264.99 Sale $159.99
12 TON PIPE BINDER
- includes dies
- Max. pipe thickness: 0.118" (3mm) B-type pipe


But like Fiero308 said
"I would not suggest to anyone that they will get decent results with that bender. It has a cheap price tag and that is the main appeal. IF you try to use it you will see why."