Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-27-2005, 07:02 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 67
down pipe

I just wanted to share my latest project,
I just replaced the turbo downpipe on my 1982 300td with a home made 2.5" unit I made for about $80. I ordered a 2.5" 180 degree mandrel bend from summitracing.com and a 2.5" diameter and 10" long stainless flex coupling off ebay. I copied the bends off my stock pipe that had a massive hole in the old coupler and cut them out of the mandrel bend and then welded it all up using the flanges off the old pipe so that everything bolts up just like stock. I used a grinder to open up the inside of flanges to 2.5". I'm pretty happy with the way it all fits. Here is a pic:

Attached Thumbnails
down pipe-mercedes-down-pipe.jpg  
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-27-2005, 07:32 PM
GermanStar's Avatar
Annelid wrangler
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Fountain Hills, AZ
Posts: 4,932
Looks good -- nice job. Now let's see how long it holds up.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-27-2005, 08:27 PM
michael cole's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: waterloo ontario
Posts: 730
nice job! the effort has saved you lots of money as the dealer oem price is quite hefty.i did something similar with my 80 300sd paying approx$100 for a stainless flexpipe from canadian tire.i had the pipe sections made up at a local muffler shop.welded it myself and saved at least half the dealer cost
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-27-2005, 08:54 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 67
Thanks for the kind words,
I think it should last quite a while, It is mostly 16 gauge tubing and the flex section has an inner braided sheath covering the bellows in addition to the outer braided sheath. only time will tell-out here in cali exhausts have it a little easier than some places
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-27-2005, 09:09 PM
GermanStar's Avatar
Annelid wrangler
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Fountain Hills, AZ
Posts: 4,932
Yeah as I said it does look good. The OEM pipes generally split open in the flex section...
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-28-2005, 09:11 AM
boneheaddoctor's Avatar
Senior Benz fanatic
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Hells half acre (Great Falls, Virginia)
Posts: 16,007
If and when my 300SD needs pipes I would love to do a 3" mandrel bent system to a flowmaster muffler.....
__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-28-2005, 09:51 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 345
got mine shipped from Rusty for $120 (came with a UPS sticker on the pipe sans any other packing !!) and was truly a 30 min install.

I dont know what your time is worth to you, but cutting, bending, welding and the price diff is only $30 -40 doesnt sound like its worth it to me

looks good though
__________________
1982 300SD (214 k, excellent shape) kidmobile running mostly biodiesel, gets 31 mpg hwy with 2.82 rear from a euro 500SEL



1976 115 body 240D 4-speed (traded for Jeep parts) - Engine lives on in my CJ7
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-28-2005, 10:26 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: RI shore
Posts: 2,937
Quote:
Originally Posted by grimgaunt
got mine shipped from Rusty for $120 (came with a UPS sticker on the pipe sans any other packing !!) and was truly a 30 min install.

I dont know what your time is worth to you, but cutting, bending, welding and the price diff is only $30 -40 doesnt sound like its worth it to me

looks good though
was that pipe from Rusty a stainless one? Do you have a picture?
__________________
'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-28-2005, 03:16 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 67
I don't get paid for my free time and I enjoy working with my hands so there's that. The whole fabrication took me a few hours working carefully. Also, I think this is a significant upgrade in durability of the flex section which seems to be the common failure point. Don't forget the awsome increase in performance from the stock ~2.25" to 2.5"! Actually I do like the idea of being able to slowly uppgrade everything to 2.5" when the time comes so this is a good investment in future uppgrades. I don't expect more absoulute power but the turbo should spool up a little quicker with less back pressure in the exhaust system. I've seen in other turbo applications improvments in booth spool up time and fuel economy with larger down pipes(not at the same time-it depends on how you drive it!). I almost just ordered a stock one because of convenience and for most people that is probably a good idea but I'm glad I took the time to do a custom piece. The way I look at it I got a chance to build something cool without spending any extra money given the fact that I needed the part anyway. To each his own I guess
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-29-2005, 12:23 AM
Zoonhollis's Avatar
Diesel Fanatic
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 551
Does that down pipe make it any quieter in the cabin? Mine is a non-OEM replacement, and it seems especially growly at lower RPMs.
__________________
Matt
------
1995 E300 Diesel (Die Blau Frau)
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 01-29-2005, 02:14 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 67
It's actually quieter as the exhaust leak in the old one is now gone. I would check to make sure your flex section hasn't sprung a leak. I would also speculate that it could also be hitting something if it isn't installed correctly-more likely to occur at low rpm. Good luck with it

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
grr, muffler shop put smaller pipe on angst Diesel Discussion 12 08-22-2004 01:27 PM
flex pipe replacement parts list JHZR2 Diesel Discussion 6 12-19-2003 01:26 PM
flex pipe replacement JHZR2 Diesel Discussion 2 12-09-2003 05:29 PM
backpressure tosbt Vintage Mercedes Forum 20 09-24-2003 09:57 PM
Header Pipe replacement JoeMB Tech Help 1 03-20-2001 08:56 PM



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:10 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page