Stainless exhaust - how thin should I go?

16 gauge? 20 gauge? Whaddaya think? It's for an NA application, practically no restriction, will be wrapped if that's important.

Can you even get 20 gauge? Normal exhaust shop is 16 gauge and aftermarket is 14 gauge.

I wouldn't go below 16 gauge myself.

How good are you at welding? Do you plan to weld it with a backpurge? Do you have good design and support? Do you plan to bend it, and with what tools?

It depends...

Bryce

A shop's gonna do the welding, you should assume basic tools, good design, high skill.

I would use 16 ga. Actually, I use 16ga, except in turbo applications, where I use 120 wall (~1/8" or 11 ga) for the header. 16ga post turbo would be OK.

Just welded a 16 gauge. Went pretty well. I would ask first- where do you live? Stainless does rust.

Whats the detailed setup? race car, daily?

I got mine done in 16ga alum and after experiencing it, 20g stainless would be as light and probably more durable.

Dont wrap either, just use as thin tubing as you can to keep heat transfer down.

It's for a streetable track car. No salt to deal with, just heavy rain.

Why not wrap it? Should help keep the exhaust from losing heat (better flow) and reduce cabin temps a little.

GameboyRMH wrote: It's for a streetable track car. No salt to deal with, just heavy rain. Why not wrap it? Should help keep the exhaust from losing heat (better flow) and reduce cabin temps a little.

Ceramic coat it if you can spare the $$$$.

Paul_VR6 wrote: Dont wrap either, just use as thin tubing as you can to keep heat transfer down.

Maybe I'm missing something why would this transfer less?

GameboyRMH wrote: It's for a streetable track car. No salt to deal with, just heavy rain.

It's not the salt so much as the 1300-1600F water vapor flowing through it.

Thinner the wall, the less heat transfer. Wrap outside just seals moisture in and makes even good stainless rot. Ceramic coating the outside and inside can do the same. If you are coating only do the inside.