Twins cold piping-- why steel? Why not copper or PVC?

[Hohn]

OK guys--



After checking the specs for PVC Schedule 40, 80 and 120, I can't see why this wouldn't work for plumbing the big charger's output to the little chargers inlet.



Same thing for copper in 4" and 5" sizes. Both the copper and the PVC will handle the temps and the pressures expected out of the big charger's discharge.



Yet everyone seems to be going with steel piping.



I think the copper would be an even better idea because it would dump some of the heat between stages, acting mildly like an intercooler between stages. It might look cool, too



Is it just because you have to fab the hot part out of steel anyway, so you may as well do the cold piping? Are there any pipefitters here that could tell me what I'm overlooking?



This seems a little too convenient. From what I've read, the joint strength of both the copper and the PVC would be more than adequate for the low pressure turbo.



Justin

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Joints in most twins setups are not perfect L's or 90's or 180's. Using steel or stainless steel allows for alot more flexibility when fabricating non-normal shapes.

 

[TORQUE THIS]

4" and 5" copper are probably 2 to 3 times more money that exhaust piping...

 

[Forrest Nearing]

if anything, I'd use aluminum... I realize a pound or two here or there isn't a big deal to most CTD owners, but coming from a drag racing background, I tend to lean towards using the lightest piece that'll do the job.



but, aluminum costs a good deal more and I don't have a TIG, so it's steel discharge tubing for me!



Forrest

 

[Hohn]

You don't need no stinkin' TIG to weld Aluminum.....



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Those are awfully good looking AL welds to me-- done with a nifty little gas torch called the Meco Midget, which weighs all of 8 ounces in the hand



justin

 

[Stamey]

My stainless cold pipe gets pretty hot, so I don't know if PVC will withstand the temps. It hasn't melted/burned the rubber where it's touching the AFE filter yet, but you don't want to lay your hand on it.



If it will withstand the temps, and you have plenty of room, you could probably plumb it with PVC standard angles, 90 and 45. I have doubts about PVC standard fittings being able to get tight enough, when you cut the 90 pretty close to the bend to connect it to another 90 to make a 180. The connectors are pretty standard in size, and I wonder if the connection will be too weak if they are modified to be shorter.



Chris