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Old 05-27-2013, 07:00 PM   #1
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Welding aluminum/stainless to mild steel

The x pipe from HeartThrob Exhaust (http://www.mufflermonster.com/index....roduct_ID=2490) is "aluminized". Any clarification on whether or not it's actually aluminum? I know from previous experience on my 98 WS6 (aluminum oil pan) that welding aluminum to aluminum is hard to do...so I'd imagine aluminum to mild steel may be as well.

If I don't go with HeartThrob's x pipe, the other one is stainless steel. Any complications that you guys know of firsthand? Thanks for any help you're able to provide
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Old 05-27-2013, 07:06 PM   #2
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The heartthrob x pipe is aluminized mild steel not aluminum. Both aluminized and stainless will weld to mild steel with the proper weld rod.
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Old 05-27-2013, 07:08 PM   #3
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Just about every muffler shop in the country does it all the time.
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Old 05-27-2013, 07:11 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by woolf View Post
The heartthrob x pipe is aluminized mild steel not aluminum. Both aluminized and stainless will weld to mild steel with the proper weld rod.
Good to know. While I'd prefer a better metal, at least the base metals match up. I'm not concerned about possible insulation loss around the welds, or the rust-preventative qualities of aluminum. I'll be painting the exhaust from the point of the new x-pipe down with hi-temp flat black coating. That's what my WS6 had on it's custom 3" exhaust for 8 years and looked brand new when I sold it.
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Old 05-27-2013, 07:23 PM   #5
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Pretty certain the stock exhaust is a 400 series stainless. In my opinion I'd get the stainless x pipe.
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Old 05-27-2013, 07:28 PM   #6
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Pretty certain the stock exhaust is a 400 series stainless. In my opinion I'd get the stainless x pipe.
What would be the point of doing one small stainless section? If I were going full stainless, I see the point. But I'm not. It looks Magnaflow stamped flat sheet stainless and then seam and/or spot welded them together to make the x pipe. It may be fine, but it may also have a totally shit internal shape with unsmooth transitions.

Edit: I know Magnaflow makes a good product, but the term "stamped" is what has me worried.
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Old 05-27-2013, 07:59 PM   #7
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The Magnaflow X pipe is cheaper than the heartthrob and is advertised as SS. Doesn't say what grade though. There are a few X pipes on Ebay that look exactly like the MF true X pipe for less than $40. One is 409SS and is around $35. That's the one i'd get if I had to do it over. I have the MF true X. If you have the L99, you'll have to weld in some tubing as well and if a muffler shop does it, it will most likely be aluminized.
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Old 05-27-2013, 08:24 PM   #8
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midas near me doesnt do anything in stainless, all their stuff is aluminized steel. for a good weld the aluminized coating should be grinded off.
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Old 05-27-2013, 10:21 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CBRpilot View Post
What would be the point of doing one small stainless section? If I were going full stainless, I see the point. But I'm not. It looks Magnaflow stamped flat sheet stainless and then seam and/or spot welded them together to make the x pipe. It may be fine, but it may also have a totally shit internal shape with unsmooth transitions.

Edit: I know Magnaflow makes a good product, but the term "stamped" is what has me worried.
What he was saying is that welding in the aluminized x-pipe, the x-pipe will be the ONLY section of your exhaust that WON'T be all stainless. Your current exhaust is already 100% stainless. And the way the Magnaflow is manufactured as a stamped piece, it actually has smoother transitions than a traditional x-pipe that is made from two pieces.
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Old 05-28-2013, 08:33 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by 2012LS3VERT View Post
What he was saying is that welding in the aluminized x-pipe, the x-pipe will be the ONLY section of your exhaust that WON'T be all stainless. Your current exhaust is already 100% stainless. And the way the Magnaflow is manufactured as a stamped piece, it actually has smoother transitions than a traditional x-pipe that is made from two pieces.

Exactly
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Old 05-28-2013, 08:44 AM   #11
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The aluminizing process is where steel is hot dip into an aluminum/silicon bath. The silicon promotes better adhesion. Here is a link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminized_steel
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