It may sound like common sense but one of the most important things to think about when you hook up your Lake Pipes, Dump Tubes, Mufflers or Bellflowers is the “flow” of the exhaust gasses coming from your engine. The diagram below shows: 1. the wrong way to make a connection, 2. connection made using a simple flaring tool, 3. using a pre-made coupler and 4. butt welding the connection.
1. Any interruption/obstruction in the flow of gasses from the engine to the tail-pipe will rob your engine of power, decrease efficiency/fuel economy and even cause problems with things like valves and spark plugs. Make sure the connection is smooth and if you have to connect with different sizes of piping…the smaller goes INTO the larger.
2. The simplest way to make a connection is to use a flaring tool…basically a conical shaped chunk of iron that is forced into the exhaust tubing to make one end big enough to fit over another. Requires some pretty good welding techniques to seal the gap.
3. Using a coupler/reducer from the auto parts store is the easiest way to make a connection. If you’re not an expert welder, you can even use exhaust clamps to hold the connection together. Easiest way to go.
4. Butt –welding the connection is the cleanest way to go but you better be “Good in a Hood” because the weld has to be perfect. Fit…tack…remove…finish weld…grind…polish… It’s a real job but the end result is as custom as it gets!
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