Need help with heating aluminum...

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Hey everyone. I have am looking for some advice here. I need to bend this outlet tube of the intercooler about a 1/4 inch out. The outlet tube is resting up against my radiator, therefore, not allowing my pipe to sit up high enough on it to get a good clamp. I have access to acetelyne, so I am not worried about not having enough heat and what not. I just have never done this before, let alone with aluminum. Should I heat up the pipe above the weld? If I am able to move it, do I need to lower the heat some and keep heat on it so it doesn't cool so fast? Looking at the pic, it is the pipe on the left side. Where it has the indention for the clamp to sit in, that is what is up against the radiator.  Any advice would be awesome. Thanks so much!!! Zack
Reply:Intercooler? That looks more like a heater core!If you get it hot enough to bend, it will just puddle and fall apart.You can usually flex the end tank's sheet metal enough to give you a 1/4" at the end of the pipe.Or...you can cut the pipe off and weld it on the correct position.
Reply:Cut it on a small angle, turn it and weld it back on.  You would be better off trying to bend it cold than hot.Whatsitfit?DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:for my neon srt-4thank you guys for the advice.
Reply:I would probably just put the hose on it before I bolted everything in. Miller EconotigCutmaster 38Yes ma'am, that IS a screwdriver in my pocket!
Reply:Hey zeez,The quickest, most effective way to do it would be to simply take a cutoff wheel, make a slice thru the tube opposite the bend, bend the distance you need, and then add the material needed & re-TIG, or just TIG the sliced gap closed. Just a thought.....DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:Joe H - I tried that, but it is so tight, that the hose won't fit inbetween the outlet pipe and the radiator. Pap - I think that is the best route. I was hoping to try and get it done this week at welding school since its my last week there. But I don't think that's going to happen. I should be able to go in one day and work on it. Thank you all!