SS Exhaust Band Clamps on Intercooler Piping???

[turbojustin]

I am installing 2.5" tubing for a custom front mount intercooler. I am considering using stainless exhaust band clamps to hold the pipes together in the middle. The ends will be held to the turbo, intercooler, tb with the typical silicone hoses/clamps. The joint where the band clamps will be installed has no ridge and is a straight cut. The band clamp looks like it will provide a strong leak-free seal. Is this a good or bad idea?? Any experience with these on ic pipes??

 

[WHEEZER]

Wouldn't it be a cleaner look to tig them?

 

[turbojustin]

Wouldn't it be a cleaner look to tig them?

Keep in mind these are polished stainless...show quality. Just kidding.

It definately would be cleaner to tig them, but I don't weld and it gets expensive paying people for their services.

 

[WHEEZER]

I can understand $hat.

 

[mybuick]

i went to napa auto parts and got the dodge cummons diesel radiator hose "T" clamps 4.00 ea.

 

[turbojustin]

i went to napa auto parts and got the dodge cummons diesel radiator hose "T" clamps 4.00 ea.

Thanks for the heads up, but I'm not sure if you understand what I'm saying.... There will be no silicone hose on these joints...just the exhaust seal...so the t-clamps won't work.

Any opinions???

 

[Louie L.]

The stainless clamps you mentioned will not form a complete seal.

 

[85HOT-T]

The stainless clamps you mentioned will not form a complete seal.

Thats what I was thinking too. On my dp u can see a little sut forming arond.

Why not use silicone hoses?

 

[Ormand]

I have the clamp you're talking about where my downpipe couples to my cat, and it doesn't leak- but the two pipes overlap. It was from Summit- can't remember who made it- and it doesn't have a gap where the two halves come together. Probably some high temp RTV would keep if from leaking on the IC piping.

 

[ijames]

I bought a tool to roll beads with, when I made up a couple of intercooler pipes, because the joints are much more secure that way ($99 on sale from Harbor Freight). However, I have a couple of friends who didn't bother and they aren't having problems with the joints blowing apart (knock on wood ), at least in the 20-25 psi boost range. I really don't think the exhaust band clamp will seal well enough (remember, it's just not boost leaking out that you care about, it's dirt getting sucked in as well). Use straight silicone hose and put two clamps on each end and you should be okay. If you are ever down this way (Maryland), look me up and I'll bead the ends for you .

 

[turbojustin]

Thanks for the help guys.

I wasn't wanting to use the silicone hose because my ic piping is basically 3-90 bends for each pipe...That is a total of 4 joints on each pipe that would need silicone hoses. In my opinion that has a big chance of blowing the silicone hoses off, especially without the rolled beads. I could eliminate 2 of the joints on each pipe by using the SS band clamps. Since the band clamps have a tighter hold on the pipe, I thought it would mean less chance of blowing a hose.

Obviously, welding would be the best option. Maybe, I could put a SS band clamp over the silicone hose. That should be a secure seal.