I bought some parts to assemble a single, stainless steel, custom-bent exhaust system for my truck. I just found out that the parts that "fit" my truck are actually different diameters. The center and tailpipe are 2.5" (what I wanted for my V6) and the muffler is 3" in/out. Here's my question:

Can the 2.5" pipe be expanded, by conventional means, to fit the 3" muffler inlet/outlet? A SS adapter is available but that would require trimming of pipes, additional cost and clamps or welding etc. I would borrow an exhaust pipe expansion tool from Autozone, if that would work.

 

It can but expanding it a quarterinch end to end to make it a half inch bigger is going to weaken it over time to rot out and leak. Trimming isn't so bad with good blades and clamps.

 

You would expand the 2.5" to fit inside the 3". No big deal.

 

Thanks, I'll give it a try. If it works, I'll save $100 in the cost of 2 adapters and additional clamps. Stainless steel isn't cheap.

 

If you bought 409 stainless, then your screwed. It will split before you get it expanded that much. 304 should be just fine.

 

The tubing for the centerpipe specified T304. The Magnaflow tailpipe didn't specify...I will call the seller tomorrow for that info.