SSI heat exchanger warning Options

[mb911]

This rule is for any and all heat exchangers.. Keep in mind that is the same procedure they do on all small aircraft to ensure everyone is safe..

[Dave_Darling]

We have just seen an SSI on the Facebook group that had one of the two header pipes completely detach. This was obviously something that failed all the way around, and would have been leaking a massive amount up to that point.

SSIs are good, but very much not immune to problems!!

--DD

[mb911]

We have just seen an SSI on the Facebook group that had one of the two header pipes completely detach. This was obviously something that failed all the way around, and would have been leaking a massive amount up to that point.

SSIs are good, but very much not immune to problems!!

--DD

Nothing is..

[GeorgeRud]

You can get a battery powered CO detector for $20 at Walmart or Amazon, so why not carry one in the car to be safe. Folks keep forgetting that even the best parts do eventually get old and brittle.

[worn]

You can get a battery powered CO detector for $20 at Walmart or Amazon, so why not carry one in the car to be safe. Folks keep forgetting that even the best parts do eventually get old and brittle.

I have one in the car.

[StratPlayer]

Who is making SS exchangers?

[mb911]

Who is making SS exchangers?

For a 4cyl no idea. For six's lots of us.

[euro911]

You can get a battery powered CO detector for $20 at Walmart or Amazon, so why not carry one in the car to be safe. Folks keep forgetting that even the best parts do eventually get old and brittle.

Hmmm ... good idea (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[DRPHIL914]

Who is making SS exchangers?

For a 4cyl no idea. For six's lots of us.

I think Dansk is , they are on E-bay and AA carries them as well, George can chime in, he would know manufacturer. Also several sources for SS mufflers from European makers that now are selling on ebay as well.

[Mark Henry]

You can get a battery powered CO detector for $20 at Walmart or Amazon, so why not carry one in the car to be safe. Folks keep forgetting that even the best parts do eventually get old and brittle.

Aircraft Spruce you can buy little button CO detector for around $5, good for 12 months once opened. Stick it right beside the tach.

[euro911]

Those are cool ... I'll have to get a couple of them

[914ltd]

I wanted to post this again. I was just reminded with another cracked stainless heat last week. Brad

[rbzymek]

Thanks for the heads up. Just ordered a $20 battery CO detector from Home Depot. I prefer an alarm to the card type so I do not have to check it. Also it will last longer than 12 months.

[horizontally-opposed]

Yikes.

This thread is a good reminder to find other solutions for a bit of heat (heated seats, "hair dryers" for a defroster, gas heater, etc) for the interior and/or an electric A/C system with heat. Cost of heat exchangers vs keeping headers—particularly on a six—is a decent head start down these roads.

[euro911]

Yep. I have a pair of 914 Rubber's seat heaters destined for the '71 914's reupholstery job ... thinking about picking up another pair for my '66 912 too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[mepstein]

Yikes.

This thread is a good reminder to find other solutions for a bit of heat (heated seats, "hair dryers" for a defroster, gas heater, etc) for the interior and/or an electric A/C system with heat. Cost of heat exchangers vs keeping headers—particularly on a six—is a decent head start down these roads.

I disagree. Especially in places where it gets cold. Heat exchangers work great and the cars were built with them in mind. Every winter there are threads seeking alternatives that never pan out. If you plan on enjoying your car for the next 5, 10 +++ years, heat exchangers are worth the investment.

Even my stock 1.7 car without an electric fan in the engine compartment, was a joy to drive on a 20 degree winter day. Driving with the top off on a cool fall day while the heat rolls through the cabin is heaven.

[mb911]

Ask Michael about heat in his car or Steve or any of the southern Cali folks that have real heat exchangers they make the difference in the car for sure. We are actually working on a simpler hopefully cheaper heat exchanger for the -6 cars to basically mirror the driver side heat exchanger to the passenger side to save costs and bring the price down but retain fantastic heat and introduce a better merge collector at the same time.

[horizontally-opposed]

I don't at all disagree that heat exchangers are effective—I enjoyed a set of SSIs on my Type IV for 20 years, and if anything they made too much heat. So I can see where they're heavenly in colder climes.

However, those pics of SSIs (which were exceptional quality...) do make me wonder about alternatives. I don't need much in the way of heat in my 914. I usually turned the heat down on cold days, and can see where heated seats and defrost would beenough. And...A/C is more and more appealing to me. I understand electric A/C systems for Emory's 356s are pretty good these days. Makes me wonder about such a system for a 914—because where I live, and for how I use my 914, a lack of A/C is the #1 thing that keeps me from taking the car on certain drives.

I've been driving my 914 with plain headers for several years now, and the times I was bummed it didn't have heat can be counted on one hand, maybe two—but I'd still like to add heat at some point.

[horizontally-opposed]

We are actually working on a simpler hopefully cheaper heat exchanger for the -6 cars to basically mirror the driver side heat exchanger to the passenger side to save costs and bring the price down but retain fantastic heat and introduce a better merge collector at the same time.

Still interested in this—and a cursory review of electric A/C (apparently without heat…) suggests old-school A/C is still far better.

Have also considered one heater box and one header for my 914 given my use and limited need for heat.

One thing I don't love about HEs is what Brad brought up in the first place: There's really no way to check the condition of the pipes unless you take the clamshells off...which is tough to do when they're welded on.

[914ltd]

The header pipes can be filled with water to check but that might not find the smallest cracks. Brad