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  • Making flange

    Making the head flange, custom matched to ports

  • 1st pipe done

    1st pipe done

  • 2nd pipe done

    2nd pipe done

  • 2nd pipe checked

    Back in car to check

  • Starting #4

    Starting pipe 4

  • Pipe 4 taking shape

    Pipe 4 taking shape

  • Dayglow pipes

    Good steel makes great colours when hot!

  • Pipe 4 nearly there

    Pipe 4 nearly done

  • Checking lengths

    Always carefully checking lengths

  • 5 pipes in the car

    5 pipes all OK in the car

  • 6 ready for collection

    6 pipes all pointing in the right direction

  • 6 pipes fit

    All 6 pipes checked in car

  • 6 OK at the bottom

    …and undernearth

  • Build collector stage 1

    And now to build the collector

  • Collector stage 2

    Collector set stage 2

  • Collector complete

    Collector complete

  • Prince pipes collected

    Prince pipes collected

  • Collector checked in car

    Collector fitted and checked in car

  • Ready for polishing

    ready for polishing

  • Polished Price Pipes

    Polished Price Pipes – ready to bolt on

Constructing race exhaust extractors using mandrel bends

Building a custom extractor system

Building exhaust extractors is a science, and also an art. Mastering the science involves understanding the effect pulse waves have inside an exhaust manifold and in how to use this effect to boost the flow. The art, I think, is self evident when one looks at the finished product.

Extractors can be constructed by either sand bending pipes to the shapes required, as shown in the images at left, or by cutting and joining pieces of mandrel-bent pipe, as shown in the photo below. This latter method becomes the only choice for large diameter extractors that need to fit into a tight space.

At the design stage, pipe diameter, primary pipe length and, if used, secondary pipe length are critical specs. During construction, port matching and pipe length matching are crucial to a quality, optimum performing component.