Here's a test we did in fluid dynamics...
Take a normal straw and blow on a piece of paper and maintain a constant deflection of the paper.
Bend the straw in the middle to a 90 degree angle and try to make the same deflection. It becomes harder and harder the further you bend it.
Now take a corrugated straw and you can bend it all the way around to blow back at you and the deflection of the paper is still as easy as if the straw were straight. It's elementary, which is exactly what Professor Ryan wanted it to be.
You don't see crush bends on pipelines, you don't see them on race cars, you don't see them on high quality headers, you see them on garage mechanic's cars. You see them from Midas and Pep Boys...
Why? Because it is cost effective and quick.
Design elements being the same, mandrel bent is better.
Weight is always a factor, luckily the weight is down low, but it is still weight and it still detracts from the performance gains when the gains are in the 3-10 whp range.
If the sound is what you are after, get a Borla.
Ed
