 SSI heat exchanger warning |
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| mepstein |
 Oct 6 2011, 03:12 PM
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#21
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914-6 GT in waiting  Group: Members Posts: 19,326 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region 
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QUOTE(avidfanjpl @ Oct 6 2011, 02:11 PM)  Sounds like we should see if someone is willing to make new SSHE's even though the price would be PRICEY. Racer Chris at Tangerine? ALL Stainless? Something to consider. Life is good, but CO is bad. I don't use heat, but this scared me good. I checked mine when off the car last spring by filling them up with water and looking for leaks pipe by pipe, but it was all good, still, no fun to gas oneself unknowingly. John I'm pretty sure they are available new from Mittlemotor - pretty but pricey. http://www.mittelmotor.de/webshop/englisch/mm.htm $1,200 Attached image(s) 
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| poorsche914 |
Nov 11 2011, 12:21 PM
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#22
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T4 Supercharged Group: Members Posts: 3,091 Joined: 28-May 09 From: Smoky Mountains Member No.: 10,419 Region Association: South East States |
I had a 1.7 set of SSIs on my 914 and after many attempts at tightening up what I thought was an exhaust leak at the head found out the pipe has a crack at the first bend inside the clamshell (noticed this when I was looking at it at night and saw fire shooting out).
Removed that set to install a 2.0 set I have had for years and years. On the driver side unit, noticed there was a crack at the point where the pipe entered the clamshell which was caused by stress from the other end not quite lining up to the exhaust hanger. Had to be pulled over about 1/4" or so. Over time, the crack formed. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) OK... on to my final set of 2.0 exchangers. No visible cracks but one of the pipes can be twisted slightly back and forth so that is also useless (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Three sets of SSI exchangers... all three sets have at least one side with issues. I was hoping to get some heat into my 914. Think I will block off the driver side and just hook up the passenger side. Then will see about having the bad exchangers repaired (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) |
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| Mikey914 |
Nov 11 2011, 12:57 PM
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#23
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The rubber man Group: Members Posts: 12,679 Joined: 27-December 04 From: Hillsboro, OR Member No.: 3,348 Region Association: None
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A simple cheap insurance is one of these. You can pick them up and may airport FBOs (fixed base operators) for less than $5. Just look up learn to fly and your local airport and call to see if they have them. Or buy from ASA directly.
http://www.asa2fly.com/Carbon-Monoxide-Det...2_product1.aspx Attached image(s) 
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| 914ltd |
Nov 11 2011, 01:47 PM
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#24
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Member Group: Members Posts: 239 Joined: 18-April 03 From: Peoria, IL Member No.: 581 Region Association: None
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Let me suggest you don't repair the bad SSI's. We hammered on the internal pipes on the cracked ones and the metal shattered. A repair is not worth the risk. Brad
QUOTE(poorsche914 @ Nov 11 2011, 10:21 AM) I had a 1.7 set of SSIs on my 914 and after many attempts at tightening up what I thought was an exhaust leak at the head found out the pipe has a crack at the first bend inside the clamshell (noticed this when I was looking at it at night and saw fire shooting out). Removed that set to install a 2.0 set I have had for years and years. On the driver side unit, noticed there was a crack at the point where the pipe entered the clamshell which was caused by stress from the other end not quite lining up to the exhaust hanger. Had to be pulled over about 1/4" or so. Over time, the crack formed. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) OK... on to my final set of 2.0 exchangers. No visible cracks but one of the pipes can be twisted slightly back and forth so that is also useless (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Three sets of SSI exchangers... all three sets have at least one side with issues. I was hoping to get some heat into my 914. Think I will block off the driver side and just hook up the passenger side. Then will see about having the bad exchangers repaired (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) |
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| sixnotfour |
Nov 11 2011, 02:04 PM
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#25
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 10,438 Joined: 12-September 04 From: Life Elevated..planet UT. Member No.: 2,744 Region Association: Rocky Mountains 
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my daily driver I switched to gas heat, Nice dry clean heat. Plus a flic a of a switch its heating no engine running.
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| poorsche914 |
Nov 11 2011, 03:53 PM
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#26
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T4 Supercharged Group: Members Posts: 3,091 Joined: 28-May 09 From: Smoky Mountains Member No.: 10,419 Region Association: South East States |
QUOTE(914ltd @ Nov 11 2011, 03:47 PM) Let me suggest you don't repair the bad SSI's. We hammered on the internal pipes on the cracked ones and the metal shattered. A repair is not worth the risk. Brad Thanks for the warning. I haven't looked real close but the 2.0 pipe with the crack actually developed a hole so it seems it could be brittle. Makes buying these things used a bit of a risk, doesn't it? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) |
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| GeorgeRud |
Nov 11 2011, 10:32 PM
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#27
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,725 Joined: 27-July 05 From: Chicagoland Member No.: 4,482 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
If you have any pictures of your gas heater and it's installation, please share them with the group. I'm sure people would love to see them.
Also, thanks to Brad for the warning! |
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| bigkensteele |
Nov 17 2011, 10:10 PM
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#28
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Major Member Group: Members Posts: 2,197 Joined: 30-August 04 From: Cincinnati, OH Member No.: 2,660 Region Association: South East States
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I just put my car back together and drove it for the first time in about 4 years. One change I made was to install 2.0 SSIs that I bought from Brad at a swap meet probably 12 years ago. I also blasted, painted, and installed a really greasy set of branch pipes and j tubes that I bought. I let them soak in my parts washer for several days, and they were still pretty nasty, and as you know, there is no way to really get to the inside completely.
Anyway, I took it out tonight to get gas. I filled it up, went in to pay, and when I came out, the cockpit was filled with smoke. It didn't really smell like exhaust, so now I am wondering if it is residual crap burning off the inside of my restored parts, or if I have leaking SSIs. Can anyone think of a way to test them on the car? |
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| GeorgeRud |
Nov 17 2011, 10:23 PM
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#29
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,725 Joined: 27-July 05 From: Chicagoland Member No.: 4,482 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
You could get a CO detector card, turn the heat on full with the top down, and run the car around with the card by the heat outlet to see if there is any sign of CO. Alternatively, CO detectors are available for RVs that run on 12 volts.
If you did restore the old heat exchangers, I would imagine that you will have a lot of residual stuff burning off the first few times you use them. It pays to be safe if you're not sure. |
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| 69rsss |
Nov 18 2011, 12:50 AM
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#30
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 6 Joined: 4-November 11 From: Seattle Wa Member No.: 13,745 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
QUOTE(mepstein @ Oct 6 2011, 01:12 PM) QUOTE(avidfanjpl @ Oct 6 2011, 02:11 PM) Sounds like we should see if someone is willing to make new SSHE's even though the price would be PRICEY. Racer Chris at Tangerine? ALL Stainless? Something to consider. Life is good, but CO is bad. I don't use heat, but this scared me good. I checked mine when off the car last spring by filling them up with water and looking for leaks pipe by pipe, but it was all good, still, no fun to gas oneself unknowingly. John I'm pretty sure they are available new from Mittlemotor - pretty but pricey. http://www.mittelmotor.de/webshop/englisch/mm.htm $1,200 John, These are the best looking set I've seen yet I looked them up but it desnt look like you can get them in the states. Any other vendors carry these? thanks Joe |
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| bigkensteele |
Nov 18 2011, 07:00 PM
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#31
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Major Member Group: Members Posts: 2,197 Joined: 30-August 04 From: Cincinnati, OH Member No.: 2,660 Region Association: South East States
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I picked this up at HD Racing today. $28 is a small price to pay for peace of mind. I would recommend one for anyone running heat with an air-cooled engine.
CO Detector I am contemplating where to put it. I may velcro it under the dash, just put it in the glove box, or place it behind my seat. From what I have read, CO mixes pretty freely with air, meaning that it is unlikely that there will be a "pocket" of CO under the dash, or up by the windshield. More reading on CO: Amazing survival story CO detector types, reviews |
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| jaxdream |
Nov 18 2011, 10:58 PM
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#32
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 974 Joined: 8-July 08 From: North Central Tennessee Member No.: 9,270 Region Association: South East States |
QUOTE(bigkensteele @ Nov 18 2011, 05:00 PM) I picked this up at HD Racing today. $28 is a small price to pay for peace of mind. I would recommend one for anyone running heat with an air-cooled engine. CO Detector I am contemplating where to put it. I may velcro it under the dash, just put it in the glove box, or place it behind my seat. From what I have read, CO mixes pretty freely with air, meaning that it is unlikely that there will be a "pocket" of CO under the dash, or up by the windshield. More reading on CO: Amazing survival story CO detector types, reviews Just an idea Ken , remove the heat exchanger hose on the cabin side leaving it connected to the heat exchanger . Run the engine and aux fan also to test for CO2 right off the heat exchanger itself . that should tell you if the exhaust is leaking into the clamshells, and not risk too much inhalation of fumes . Basicaly testing the air volume before it reaches the cabin. Good luck with your findings and let us know what you find. Jack |
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| EdwardBlume |
Nov 19 2011, 05:26 AM
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#33
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 12,338 Joined: 2-January 03 From: SLO Member No.: 81 Region Association: Central California
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Thanks for posting this nugget.
We all love our 914s but no one wants to be buried in it especially while still driving down the street. |
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| nathansnathan |
Nov 19 2011, 10:25 AM
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#34
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,052 Joined: 31-May 10 From: Laguna Beach, CA Member No.: 11,782 Region Association: None |
I found something similar on a pair of factory bus heat exchangers, though those have a cast aluminum heat sink around them and are steel. I had the sheet metal off of them. I put a rubber stopper in one end, modified another stopper with a cut-off a bicycle tube air valve stem for the other end. I submerged it in a rubbermaid-type container. Using a bicycle pump, there were numerous tiny cracks, fissures difficult to notice by eye that bubbles easily came out of.
Bus ones also have asbestos fiber lining all inside the sheet metal but that's another issue. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) |
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| wingnut86 |
Nov 19 2011, 08:35 PM
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#35
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...boola la boo boola boo... Group: Members Posts: 1,053 Joined: 22-April 10 From: South Carolina Member No.: 11,645 Region Association: South East States |
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)
Racer Chris's custom headers with heat exchanger are looking better and better. Chris, group buy of an even 10 units for $499.95 each? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif) |
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| partwerks |
Nov 19 2011, 08:49 PM
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#36
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,593 Joined: 7-September 06 From: Grand Island, NE Member No.: 6,787 |
One less thing for me to worry about having the WRX engine in there........
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| jimkelly |
Mar 15 2012, 04:10 PM
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#37
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Delaware USA Group: Members Posts: 4,969 Joined: 5-August 04 From: Delaware, USA Member No.: 2,460 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
my first encounter with a sshe that had a crack in the pipe within the tin area. during my test, one pipe out of four clearly had some air bypass. i cut the tin off and basically the air was escaping thru basically a pin hole along a fissure. as you can see this crack is minor compared to brad's examples. thanks to brad for pointing out the potential for this occurance and his testing proceedure.
here is a link to some info on COHb levels as read by the kiddie night hawk detector shown in a post below. as you can see, I plug on end and tape around the head end as to have a clean surface to put my mouth on, so I can blow orally to check for leaks, works fine. http://www.safetyproductsunlimited.com/co_alarm.html Attached thumbnail(s) 
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| bandjoey |
Mar 15 2012, 06:43 PM
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#38
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bandjoey Group: Members Posts: 4,929 Joined: 26-September 07 From: Bedford Tx Member No.: 8,156 Region Association: Southwest Region |
What About the common steel HE's? Do they crack like this too???
Other Solution: Keep the roof Off. |
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| bigkensteele |
Mar 15 2012, 06:57 PM
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#39
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Major Member Group: Members Posts: 2,197 Joined: 30-August 04 From: Cincinnati, OH Member No.: 2,660 Region Association: South East States
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Thanks to Brad and this thread, I don't drive with the roof on without this. It has registered as high as 33 PPM while I have been out on drives. Not much, but not zero either.
$28 at Home Depot = cheap insurance.  |
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| Black914_4 |
Mar 15 2012, 07:44 PM
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#40
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Member Group: Members Posts: 272 Joined: 11-January 12 From: AR Member No.: 13,994 Region Association: South East States |
Great thread!
This is my first air-cooled car. I do have exhaust leak (haven't looked for it yet) and the thought of a leak coming through the heater did cross my mind but wasn't sure how to check/know for sure. The CO tester in the cab is a great ideal everyones needs to know/do. Needs to be told to all new poeple somehow. Maybe in a check list for newbies. First things to check out when getting a 914. My 6 year old rides in the car with me. Alot at stake by not knowing. I'll be getting one before I take my car out for a drive again! |
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