My Home Made Up-Pipe Brace.

[KEVINS]

Cool. My up pipe was blowing off too. It was due to the lubricant in the alky injection system (older non progressive SMC type) blowing out around the hoses and then "soaping" the pipe up. It was also a 3" chrome pipe with not much of a lip like the stock up pipe. So I cleaned it all up and my bro welded a fatter lip on the up pipe. Never came off again.

Yea, a lip needs to be welded around my throttle body. This is the real reason why the hose won't stay on but these brackets have proven to be THE sure way to keep it on. Under high boost the up-pipe tries to pull away from the throttle body but with this system it can't move back at all. I've proven that to myself since this is the ONLY thing that I have changed and it has already stayed on at 31psi of boost.
With these brackets in place I don't need to worry if the clamps are on "100% perfectly", or if I got all the oil off the surface of the hose and TB, or .. ??? These brackets keep the up-pipe from pulling away from the TB and that is why the hose stays on at these boost levels.

I've modified the assembly a tad from the photo above but if you can see it now the hose has a slight wrinkle in it b/c I pulled the hose onto the TB a bit so it's not under any tension at rest. The pipe probably still moves around a little and I don't want it pulling on the hose at all otherwise it may loosen it at the throttle body. Under boost I'm sure it expands like a ballon so the wrinkle isn't causing any distribution issues.

I'm very confident that this will help keep my new hoodliner from being blown apart!

KS

 

[ijames]

Very nice. For those who haven't done the math, 30 psi boost in 3" piping means each joint has 212 pounds of force trying to pull the joint apart, so when you give a little tug to test a connection you really should be trying to do a chin-up . Kevin, looks like all you really need to do to the up pipe is just get a short straight piece TIGed on the end to shorten up the hose, no mandrel bends required. Like you said, if you do extend it don't forget a bead or lip at the end to keep the hose clamp from being able to slide off (insurance for your rods).

 

[KEVINS]

Here's the completed brace....for now.
I changed to quick-release couplers on the up-pipe and I added the stainless steel mesh. I was hoping that the mesh would dig into the hose a little and keep the hose from sliding under the clamps plus keep the hose from expanding/deforming too much under 30psi of boost. I know a lot of people don't like the look of mesh around hoses but I do so for now I'll keep it. I didn't know if the mesh would cause any issues but so far it's working really good, besides it's about saving my new hood liner which is still waiting to be installed

 

[mgmshar]

That's a beautiful brace that is totally uglified by the corrugated black MAF hose under it! Seriously, at 30 psi, that turbo is sucking in so much air that I wonder if that hose is collapsing.

Even so, the brace is a neat "cool" part...

Mike
Sent from my HTC Droid Incredible using Turbo Buick

 

[KEVINS]

LOL... That is some REALLY STIFF stuff and I doubt it's deforming too much but who knows under that much suction..

ks

 

[mgmshar]

LOL... That is some REALLY STIFF stuff and I doubt it's deforming too much but who knows under that much suction..

ks

Maybe it's time to make another brace to make sure that hose doesn't get sucked in...

Mike
Sent from my HTC Droid Incredible using Turbo Buick

 

[turbot3.8]

Nice setup.

 

[dr_frankenstein]

I love the mesh look,

 

[m233roller]

Nice work but looks like ALOT of work. I'll bet you wouldn't blow the hose off with these clamps. Constant Torque clamps CLAMP !!

 

[KEVINS]

Nice work but looks like ALOT of work. I'll bet you wouldn't blow the hose off with these clamps. Constant Torque clamps CLAMP !!

I was told the same thing about t-bolt clamps. When those failed I bought a different set and those too wouldn't hold so I bet I would blow those off. Someone also posted that they warped thier throttle body tightening those clamps too tight so people may need to be careful when tightening those types of clamps.. That would suck!

Thanks for the kudos.. I've been really happy with the success of the brace!

ks

 

[turbot3.8]

Anyway to mass produce it?

 

[KEVINS]

Anyway to mass produce it?

Sure, but the custom brackets may be a bit pricey in low volumes since I doubt there wouldn't be a lot of people wanting them.

ks

 

[Nick Micale]

I had the same problem, but a different solution by eliminating the hose.

 

[m233roller]

Yup you say you tried different clamps but have you ever used a constant torque clamp? T-bolts clamps are junk compared to constant torque clamps. Ask me how I know? I turned all the Buick guys onto them around here as Iv'e been using them for years and no one around here blows hoses off even with some big boost numbers. Personally Iv'e never been over 28lbs.
As far as the guy warpping a throttle body by tightening a clamp to tight????? What was he using? a 1/2 in. drive?

 

[KEVINS]

Yup you say you tried different clamps but have you ever used a constant torque clamp? T-bolts clamps are junk compared to constant torque clamps. Ask me how I know? I turned all the Buick guys onto them around here as Iv'e been using them for years and no one around here blows hoses off even with some big boost numbers. Personally Iv'e never been over 28lbs.
As far as the guy warpping a throttle body by tightening a clamp to tight????? What was he using? a 1/2 in. drive?

No, I never did. I was too fed up with trying different clamps and different hoses and I wanted a more solid solution that would keep the up-pipe from moving backwards and pulling on the hose altogether. I figured if the up-pipe couldn't pull on the hose then it couldn't pull the hose of the TB.

I love Nicks idea the BEST!!

ks

 

[GNONYX]

I love the mesh look,

I know to each his own, but I agreed, the mesh compliments the engine bay instead of the plain color hoses

 

[Nick Micale]

No, I never did. I was too fed up with trying different clamps and different hoses and I wanted a more solid solution that would keep the up-pipe from moving backwards......

I love Nicks idea the BEST!! ks

Thank you Kevin, I sometimes have good ideas, but not the fabrication talent, but one of my good friends is VERY talented!

Actually he did the headers, downpipe and the engine compartment sheet metal as well.

 

[GNONYX]

Hi Nick,
GM should have hirer you as an TR engineer. Looking at your engine, it looks very stream line, including the downpipe with NO twist and NO bents. Just relocate and add the AC components and you're done. Nice looking engine, Nick

 

[KEVINS]

Hi Nick,
GM should have hirer you as an TR engineer. Looking at your engine, it looks very stream line, including the downpipe with NO twist and NO bents. Just relocate and add the AC components and you're done. Nice looking engine, Nick

I was thinking the same thing when I saw it. Good design and fab work there!!

ks