Header/tubing pipe expander

May 23, 2023, 06:28 PM

Bruce Williams

Has anybody here had any experience using the tubing expanders?
Making some changes to my headers and with the location of the existing tubes being so close together it will be impossible to butt weld them.
If I can "expand" the tube to facilitate a slip on fit it would be much nicer/cleaner.

May 23, 2023, 06:57 PM

TD3550

Any muffler shop with a machine can do a couple thou.

May 23, 2023, 07:57 PM

Bruce Williams

quote:
Originally posted by TD3550:
Any muffler shop with a machine can do a couple thou.

I need to stretch the 1 3/4 to slip over 1 3/4.
Guess I should get my butt off the couch and go ask the muffler people.

May 23, 2023, 08:38 PM

imakehp

quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Williams:
quote:
Originally posted by TD3550:
Any muffler shop with a machine can do a couple thou.

I need to stretch the 1 3/4 to slip over 1 3/4.
Guess I should get my butt off the couch and go ask the muffler people.

Pretty small headers Bruce....shouldn't be any clearance issues with 1-3/4 tubes

May 23, 2023, 08:44 PM

imakehp

If by chance you meant 2-3/4 Harbor Freight has a large size exhaust pipe expander that works on 2-1/8 up to 3"
It actually works pretty well for $29

May 23, 2023, 09:20 PM

Bruce Williams

quote:
Originally posted by imakehp:
If by chance you meant 2-3/4 Harbor Freight has a large size exhaust pipe expander that works on 2-1/8 up to 3"
It actually works pretty well for $29

Dave im working on a different set of headers for my Corvette. Still running the 355 SBC.
With the engine set back there is not much that works on the drivers side.
I found a set of early Chevy II fenderwell headers that fit well on the passenger side but had to redo all tubes on the drivers side. I have to make a couple more changes that necessitate cutting all 4 tubes just before they enter the collectors. Since all 4 tubes are touching it is impossible to weld all the way around. Figured if I could make the 1 3/4 a slip fit over the existing 1 3/4 it would not require the 360* weld job.
I'll take a look at the HB freight piece.
Take care buddy.

May 23, 2023, 09:39 PM

imakehp

quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Williams:
quote:
Originally posted by imakehp:
If by chance you meant 2-3/4 Harbor Freight has a large size exhaust pipe expander that works on 2-1/8 up to 3"
It actually works pretty well for $29

Dave im working on a different set of headers for my Corvette. Still running the 355 SBC.
With the engine set back there is not much that works on the drivers side.
I found a set of early Chevy II fenderwell headers that fit well on the passenger side but had to redo all tubes on the drivers side. I have to make a couple more changes that necessitate cutting all 4 tubes just before they enter the collectors. Since all 4 tubes are touching it is impossible to weld all the way around. Figured if I could make the 1 3/4 a slip fit over the existing 1 3/4 it would not require the 360* weld job.
I'll take a look at the HB freight piece.
Take care buddy.

OOOOOOO....sorry bud, thought we were talking about the digger...lol Harbor also has a small and medium expander. Try and get the biggest you can fit in your tube beause if you really expand the tube out to the limit of the tool it will leave little flat spots kinda due to the shoes getting far apart....

May 24, 2023, 10:21 AM

Al Alguire

As stated most any muffler shop can do it. Otherwise you can buy a mechanical expander from many sources. Amazon has a few as does Hobo Freight. Back in the day when I worked at parts stores in HS and part time as a second job we actually had a hydraulic expander with many dies. Of course we also rebuilt alternators and starters, relined brake shoes, made ac and hydraulic hoses etc etc.