any good reason to buy the more expensive TIG welded Comptech Header (over the MIG)??

[Philbert]

i currently have an aem cold air intake and comptech axle back exhaust on my integra. i'm looking to add the b-pipe and header now. from what i have read, the two comptech headers are made from the same pipes and should perform the same... the only difference (accounting for the price difference) is the amount of time it takes to do TIG welds (and how much better they look).

is there a durability issue here? will the TIG welds hold up better over time? or should i just save the $100 or so and be happy with the MIG? i don't plan on showing off my engine bay, so the looks aren't that big of an issue.

thanks,
phil

[Eeepers]

You're right about them performing the same. I don't know how much longer a TIG welded one would last over the mig though.

[GunNam]

I bought a 4-1 dc sports header, lowered my car... now my header is dented.... I don't see the reason for buying the more expensive one.... it'll probably get damaged sooner or later if your car is lowered.

[B18C]

Originally posted by GunNam
I bought a 4-1 dc sports header, lowered my car... now my header is dented.... I don't see the reason for buying the more expensive one.... it'll probably get damaged sooner or later if your car is lowered.

Me too : My DC 4-1 got dented like a week after I installed it. That thing hangs freakin low.

[GhettoGSR]

TIG welds are indeed stronger than MIG welds if both are done properly, however, MIG welds are easily strong enough to hold the header together. We used MIG welds to make the frame on the FSAE racecar last year (if you don't know what FSAE is, and you're in college, you HAVE to check out http://www.duke.edu/web/fsae/formula.htm to see the car). The frame failed when we dropped a toolbox on it right near a weld, but it was the actual chromoly steel tubing that broke, not the weld. MIG welding done right (I'm sure Comptech can weld a lot better than I can) will be plenty strong, although they are uglier than TIG welds.

[Philbert]

Originally posted by GhettoGSR
TIG welds are indeed stronger than MIG welds if both are done properly, however, MIG welds are easily strong enough to hold the header together. We used MIG welds to make the frame on the FSAE racecar last year (if you don't know what FSAE is, and you're in college, you HAVE to check out http://www.duke.edu/web/fsae/formula.htm to see the car). The frame failed when we dropped a toolbox on it right near a weld, but it was the actual chromoly steel tubing that broke, not the weld. MIG welding done right (I'm sure Comptech can weld a lot better than I can) will be plenty strong, although they are uglier than TIG welds.

that's sweet. i graduated from northwestern last year, and i don't think we had this (i think i saw them build a solar car one year). i wasn't an engineer (though i was supposed to be), but am nuts enough about cars to have tried to contribute in some way. how fast do the FSAE cars go? is the competition on an autocross like course, or wheel to wheel on a road course?

i think i'll just get the MIG header and use the savings towards the B-pipe. i'm concerned much less on appearance (few people will ever see the header) and more on performance and value.

[Nikolai]

I'm on the FSAE Formula Car Team at the University of Texas at Austin...........We had a great car this year, except for the wheel that fell off in the endurance event...........arg, crappy OEM Honda ATV hubs....

Anyhow, yes, a TIG (tungsten inert gas) weld is a better weld than a MIG (metal inert gas) weld, because the add rod, or rather the material that's added to make the bead, melts at a much higher temperature when using a TIG.

The frame will always break near the weld as opposed to the weld itself, because the steel undergoes a phase change as it cools that makes it extremely brittle.

You guys at Duke might want to consider having your frame stress/heat treated next year after it's completed to reduce the likely hood of this happening again.

The SAE cars, while not built for top end speed, can accelerate from 0-60 in around 3 seconds, though they top out at only around 100 mph. Keep in mind that the stock Honda F4I motorcycle motors that most teams use is power limited by a 20mm intake restrictor.

Also, check out our team's site, as well as the general sae site:

http://www.me.utexas.edu/~fsae/

http://www.sae.org/students/formula.htm


Thanks and Good Luck,
Nick

[Veryevil]

got comptech headers around 300 new have more email me and find more info vtectriguns@yahoo.com