Using rectangular tubing?

[gerrelt]

Hi,

For leading the coolant to the (planned) rad up front, I am contemplating rectangular tubing.

Instead of using 32 mm round tubing I want to use 15 * 60 mm rectangular tubing (if I can find it somewhere). The advantage is a 17 mm more ground clearance, because I want to mount it under the central tunnel of my 1303 beetle.
An extra advantage will be that the rectangular tubing will cool better than the round one, but that's only a marginal advantage.

The problem I see in using it is I would have to weld all the bends, as bending is not possible.

Would a beginner welder, like me, be able to weld a water tight connection?

Would the flow be affected by the rectangular tubing?

Greetings!

Gerrelt.
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[richbaker78]

I dont know the answer but are you really so low that 17mm is going to make a difference? and will it be enough difference to justify a LOT more work?

surely the effort could be put into making a shield for the underslung pipes?

good luck if you go for it!

[gerrelt]

No, I am not that low, I like my lowerings functional.

It's 4 cm lowered in the front and about 2 cm lowered in the rear.

I've got 15 cm's of ground clearance:



But this is without the front bumper installed, and with nobody in the car.
I would like to retain a reasonable ground clearance.
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VolksRomeo 13033 S 1.4 IE
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[gerrelt]

After doing some research on the internet, welding a watertight seam with a flux core mig welder can be tricky. So, indeed, a lot of trouble for 1,5 cm extra groundclearance. I probably will use round tubing, and will rent a tube bender for a day.
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VolksRomeo 13033 S 1.4 IE
(VW 1303 S with Alfa Romeo 33 1.4 IE engine)
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[72panelvan]