SC vs. Carrera heat exchangers

Pettybird · Pettybird's Garage

They're different part numbers here on Pelican. What's the difference? I picked up an absolutely mint set of '86 units at a swap meet, and I'm looking to mount them on my SC... If a set of '74 HE's work on just about anything, why the separate part number? I have the Carrera crossover pipe and cat (which are obviously visually different but doesn't look functionally different), if that matters.

Different stud length? Would I need longer or shorter ones? Different primary tube diameter? Voodoo incantations?

Thanks,
Doug

Kahuna · 02-23-2004, 03:10 AM

You need longer studs for sure. I think that the Carrera manifolds will work fine on an SC and believe that they do offer improved flow. This and the question of whether 964 manifolds might work has come up before, but never(to my knowledge, fully answered). At one time I though about using a free set of 964 manifolds on my Carrera but never got around to actually fitting them.

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

The flanges are different. On the later cars, the flanges stick up into the heads. Depending upon what engine you have, you may need to cut them to make them work properly.

-Wayne

Damomma · 02-24-2004, 04:45 PM

I just installed 86s on my 78 but as indicated above you need the longer exhaust studs. I had to drill out all but three after they broke off in the head. I only had to helicoil 2 of the 9 I drilled out. The 86s have an extended pipe that sticks above the flange into the exhaust port. This is easily sawed off with a sawsall flush then with an angle grinder, bevel the inner part of the flange so nothing sticks up. It was very easy and they work perfect.

Pettybird · Pettybird's Garage

Sweet thanks a lot- apparently the SC's at one point started using that flange... I say this because there's a set f/s here and a set f/s on Ebay claiming to be from an SC, and they have the SC crossover...

Wayne any date as to when that happened? I'm just a nut for odd information.

My heat exchanger sheetmetal is a rusted wreck, and the 3.2 units I bought are barely dirty. Uncle's got an oac torch set, so it'll come aprt, or I'll have a couple extra exhaust ports... whichever burns first.

kidding, of course.

Thanks again,
Doug

Damomma · 02-24-2004, 05:28 PM

Curious, what's the significance of the SC crossover? My 86s had an accordian looking crossover verses the clamp type of the 78s I took off but it fit just fine?

Pettybird · Pettybird's Garage

no, that's it. the motors are the same width and all, and the gaskets are common for both ends. I can't see the point of the accordion because i can't picture much flex there, but it must be because of the weight of the cat? Wouldn't the driver's side HE take stress then, considering it could flex some?

The answer is, of course, (German accent), "Because."

I'm going to use the Carrera pipe as it's still attatched at the pass. side HE, and those gaskets are like $8 and they've never been apart.

Later-
Doug

Damomma · 02-24-2004, 06:21 PM

I picked up a 18mm oil drain plug for $3 at pepboys to plug the bung where the o2 sensor would go. Before I plugged it I was thinking of running the wires into the cockpit and installing one of those LED air/fuel meters for a little light show, not sure if that would work though? :-)

Pettybird · Pettybird's Garage

Get a GM 2 wire sensor from something that's got the 18mm threads- any 80's car should do. The meters are calibrated for them anyway. Tell them you've got something like an '89 Cavalier and it should be around $20. Basically, they're the same for many years and many applications, until the '90's with the 4 wire units. That summer Autozone job shore comes in handy!

The A#1, double-throw-down O2 sensor hole filler is a spark plug. now all we'd need is a 7 wire dist. cap and

BAM!

Flames like a turbo...

and you thought your gauge idea was clever...

Seriously I have one of those laying around, and I thought of hooking it up once I get as far as you. the plugs look a little funny with some deposits on them- I see a lot of posts warning about pinging, but I don't know what that sounds like. I mean, I KNOW what pinging sounds like in a Chrysler 440 or a Ford 5.0, but this one's a little different in that there isn't 400 pounds of iron to resonate through.

-Doug