Intercooler pipes: Aluminum, SS, or Aluminized Steel?, Pros and Cons please.... Options

[99GT]

Price, durability, whats good or bad?

[angrymike]

stainless is stainless. you pay more for the better bender. as long as you get your stuff from a reputable source, your getting the same thing that everyone else is getting.

companies don't have to charge fair market price. in fact, the best bends that i've ever gotten are from the cheapest place that i've found.

aluminum is the best option due to the heat dispating properties. you want somthing that will heat soak fast and disipate fast.

while your sitting at a light your pipes will heat soak. so as you take off the pipes will start to cool. you want your piping to cool instantly so you get the benifits from that awsome fmic you have. stainless or aluminized steel retain a ton of heat. soon as you heat them after that first pass, they usually stay hot.

aluminum is lighter too. when your engine is moving around and you have big heavy piping, chances of a coupler blowing off or pipes hitting things increases.

its usually more expensive, however the benfits usually outwiegh the cost. you can usually get aluminum for the same price as stainless. problem is finding somone to weld it.

the other thing that most people don't think about is what if you using stainless intercooler pipes and your welder doesn't backpurge, your going to get some sugaring in the piping.

this is bad for two reasons:

1. you might end up sucking slag into the engine
2. there is a rough serface at each weld causing turbulence.

a good welder can not back purge and get minimal sugaring, however most welders doing automotive stuff arn't good welders.