Find of the century

V-Band Assemblies - Columbia River Mandrel Bending

Looks like I'm V-banding my intercooler set up and new exhaust for the SR.

 

I would think for V-band use on intercooler piping you'd need to run an o-ring... like this:

2.5" V-Band FLANGE Kit Aluminum Turbo Intercooler pipe:eBay Motors (item 350267303117 end time Oct-26-09 18:41:50 PDT)



V-band's don't really make a *perfect* fit without an o-ring or gasket or something. It's good enough for use with an exhaust, but IC piping with vaccum and boost might leak a little bit.

And those prices don't seem that great... I dunno. Not something I'd label find of the century.

 

Haven't touched it for quite some time.
I need to install my windshield, I've got new glass and a seal here already.

I'm just intimated by it

 

From what I understand V-band clamps should hold way over 100psi of water pressure. They've been around for ever in the plumbing industry. I dont see why they wouldnt take 15 psi from a stock T28.

That is the first time I've seen V-band clamps under 100$

I cant weld aluminum. The ones I posted are Mildsteel rings with Stainless steel clamps.

 

They're on eBay for under $20...

2.5'' V-BAND STAINLESS STEEL CLAMP FLANGE TURBO EXHAUST:eBay Motors (item 320430025065 end time Oct-29-09 18:43:05 PDT)

Do the ones used in plumbing use any sort of o-ring? I had a v-band exhaust on my S13 and S14, and it fit fine for exhaust, no leaks, but I don't think the fit was nearly tight enough to not leak at all. Especially under vaccum like an IC set up would see.

 

You can use any O-ring that fits in there if needed. And I've never really trusted anything from ebay especially since that vendor is selling chinese shit.

Cant weld Stainless steel either. (I can but my Mig dosnt do it very well.)

 

Its a flange and a clamp. How badly could someone fuck that up? I can see for a precision piece, but for shit like that, who cares? Also, I don't know about rigidly connecting intercooler pipes. Silicone flexes and allows for movement between the motor and the piping/intercooler.

But hey, its your money. Spend it how you see fit... I'm not gonna tell you how to build your car

 

It will have couplers at the turbo and throttle body. Other than that I dont see the problem with taking out 2 silicone couplers and replaceing them with clamps. If everything is supported correctly there wont be that much stress on it.

 

True. I thought you wanted to eliminate all silicone. As long as there's some flex you should be OK.

I've just never seen a car with v-band intercooler piping... I've seen wiggins clamps used for intercoolers, but they have o-rings.

 

Jegs and summit have had 2.5 and 3" v-bands for under $50 for a long time...