Copper risers and elbows

Maynard

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Joined
Jan 4, 2006
RO Number
19890
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2
Our 454 Crusaders have 12" risers. These were not very popular and are no longer available. We are planning to have a guy in New York, (Paul), make replacement units in copper. I think they are supposed to last a long time and are much cheaper than having stainless ones made. We don't have too many options. We could buy 8" and 4" iron risers and bolt them together. Our manifolds have rear mounted risers.
 
How old are they and do they have to be that high?
 
They have been in salt water since October 2006. The 12" risers bring the turn of the exhaust water to exactly 12" above the waterline. I have been told that you want a 12" rise to prevent stern waves or fast backing up to send water over the top and into the engine. A friend has a 36" Tiara with Crusaders. This is hi fifth season in salt water and one of his risers rotted through to the inside and trashed the engine. So, I am getting very paranoid.
 
Do like I did. Get your SS from a scrap dealer. Copper is twice the cost of SS.

And I wouldn't use copper for the exhaust tube anyway.

And if you're gonna have them made up, make the riser/exhaust a one piece. The BIG problem with 90% of stock manifold styles is the point of raw water mixing with the exhaust. The farther away from the riser that the raw water in introduced with the exhaust gases, the much lower the chance of reversion.

Here's a pix of a partially completed SS exhaust. I'm doing internal upgrades to it now.

002-6.jpg


and this what they look like. Full FWC.

002-7.jpg
 
The position you describe is called the static line. Google it. I cannot recall the exact figure, however, yours sounds close.

I guess you have to measure the cost vs longevity as far as the copper vs the stainless goes. I am a very conservative replacement person. If it was a wash, I would go with copper if for no other reason than to be able to examine other things.

I have never heard of copper manifolds. Interesting idea.
 
My '73 Uniflite still has the original copper exhaust collectors. 37 years of warm salt water. Had one leak at a seam and resolved with solder. Most, if not all heat exchangers are copper. It really comes down to cost as well as the knowledge and expertise of the manufacturer.

Gene
 
If you're talking about Paul from Marine Manifolds, he makes the riser out of cupro-nickel...probably the most corrosion resistant riser you will find. He made a set for my diesels around 2004 for a very reasonable price.
 
to protect the engines they cant be too high.
 
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