Aluminium bends / elbows - but NOT for boost pipes
Turbo Mini Forums

I'm trying to source some thick wall (ie, cast or forged) aluminium "pipe fittings", specifically bends or elbows, around the 38-50mm size range.

I've found everything else I need (rectangular section, plate section, thickwall tube and thinwall tube) on the internet and/or eBay but the only pre-formed bends I can find are mandrel bent THIN walled stuff for connecting boost pipes.

I specifically want thickwalled 45 degree elbows (3mm minimum, preferably 6mm). It could be mandrel bent from thickwalled tube (I used to have access to a machine that would have done it easily) but no-one seems to sell it that way off the shelf.

Otherwise I'm going to have to give up single handedly saving the planet for a while and cut and lobster-back some thickwall tube. (I will kill the planet by using lots of electricity and lots of argon:(:(:().

And in case you think I'm totally mad, it's for fabricating my inlet manifold/runners and plenum chamber and I need to get up and over the top of the exhaust manifold with a thick enough section to be able to weld the injector bosses in.

Rod.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

Try "schedule" pipe

this place has some alliminium fittings.. Its USA but will give you an idea what to look for.. click on "pipe fittings and pipe" and look for "butt weld"
http://www.mcmaster.com/

Edited by Turbo Tel on 17th May, 2008.

website:- http://www.terryhunt.co.uk

This is the sort of thing:



You could also have a look in the scrappy for inlet manifolds to chop up.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Thanks both of you...
Terry, the US market always has been a bit more easy/open, I worked out there for a while so like it, but I allways get screwed for import duties etc now I'm back in the UK. If only I could find an on-line catalogue like that in the UK...
Paul, thanks, right bits there for sure and phoning around "traditional" suppliers would be my next way forward but past experience tells me suppliers like that don't do "retail" for small quantities. Where I used to work we used Eurotube who were great for large companies, but didn't want to know the general public. I'll ring your suggestion on Monday to see if they are "public" friendly...
I was going to trash an MG inlet manifold, but realised it's flanges are thinner than a turbo manifold anyway....
Rod.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

6mm wall ??? Are you building driveshafts with it ??

No bends, but they do have other stuff.

http://www.rossmachineracing.com/extrusionhouse.html

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will