SSI Info and Pics Needed

[tight as a bull's ass]

Ok, I've heard a lot of talk about SSI....

what are they? what do they look like, and how do I know if I have them?

Will installing them increase performance? thanks for the info.

[pwd72s]

No pic, but SSI's and the factory pre 1974 heat exchangers are identical in performance. This is the most efficient heat exchanger design for power. SSI's are works of art, visually...if my factory exchangers ever give up the ghost, I'll replace with SSI's...might have them ceramic coated in the factory gray color tho.

Do a search for "backdated" or simply "SSI" and you'll find loads of info.

They increase HP and torque between 2000 & 5000 rpm.

I have been converted long time ago and I'm going to backdate my exhaust very soon.

Forgot the picture

[CamB]

SSI's and the factory pre 1974 heat exchangers are identical in performance

SSI themselves are pretty vigorous in stating that theirs are true equal length and the factory (apparently) not. I think that's BS, FWIW. Either way, they look beautiful and should last forever.

SSI also claim that the Dansk ones are inferior (they use some mild steel, apparently). Check out their advert in Excellence.

[Harlan Chinn]

SSI's are pieces of artwork for sure! The stainless gleams! I had a pair installed last November. My mechanic unveiled them and I thought wow, too bad their underneath the car, but they sure look damn good when you are down there. They do provide a bit more low end torque and the sound from whichever muffler you select will give your car a more purposeful sound.

[Wayne 962]

This engine has SSIs on it...

Monday's Engine Rebuild Teaser Pic - Beendet!

-Wayne

[speeder]

That would be this motor?

(A little more SSI showing here). I have 'em for my motor, these are essential. Paul is right, performance would be identical to factory '74s, but the SSIs are nicer pieces.

[Tyson Schmidt]

Actually there is a difference. The factory right hand exchanger is compromised for ease of installation/removal. They had to forego the equal length on the right side so they could fit the barrel nut access hole.

The SSI's don't have this access hole. They have only two on the right istead of three. This was so they could make the right side equal length, just like the left side. This is also why they come with that special wrench, since it makes that nut difficult to access.

Originally posted by CamB
SSI's and the factory pre 1974 heat exchangers are identical in performance

SSI themselves are pretty vigorous in stating that theirs are true equal length and the factory (apparently) not. I think that's BS, FWIW. Either way, they look beautiful and should last forever.

SSI also claim that the Dansk ones are inferior (they use some mild steel, apparently). Check out their advert in Excellence.

Hmm that's confusing. When I phoned Dansk about their "SSI-style" heat exchangers they told me that they were 100% stainless steel.

[GeorgeM]

As far as performance, at least with a 3.2, you can do pretty well with a cat bypass pipe and some sort of freer flowing muffler with the stock heater boxes.

I had a cat pipe, a gutted stock muffler and a generic Autothority chip and got almost the same power increase than I got from SSIs, a Monty single out, and a custom chip.

Needless to say, even though I got a decent deal on them, I didn't think the expense for the SSIs was worth it in my case.

It is only money, however. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

I'll be happy to email you the dyno runs of you like.

All this talk about equal length and "almost equal length" has confused me.

So does anyone know for sure:

Will the Dansk (almost equal length) heat exchangers produce better HP & torque or not?


BTW why can't I get www.stainlesssystemsinc.com to work?

Can someone please post the e-mail adress to the staff at SSI? I know one of the SSI people sometimes visit this homepage.

[rrcrawford70s]

I really like the photos of the motor, SSI's and REALLY like the muffler. What model is it?
I have a 2.7 RS Spec., MFI, with SSI's. At the moment, I have the stock exhaust with flaking paint. I am tired of repainting it with high temp heat paint. Tired of the CHEESY look!!
What is the best stainless steel muffler, keeping the noise level at stock db's?

[emcon5]

Originally posted by Mikkel

BTW why can't I get www.stainlesssystemsinc.com to work?

Try: http://www.ssimotorsports.com/

Not much there though.

[Joeaksa]

Mikkel,

Equal length or not, the SSI units are a piece of art. The main difference for me is that I will never have a heat exchanger rust out again. I had several stock units rust out on my 72 model and will never put up with that again.

If you take a magnet and run it along a Dansk muffler, you will find that the baffles in the muffler are not stainless. Have seen some that have rusted out and then the tone changes. I have one on my car and the baffles are magnetic, so assume that they are not stainless.

Its possible (I have heard) that some stainless will attract a magnet but for the most part its a good way to test.

Joe

Hmm it's not so much what materials that have been used that worries me now. I'm more interested in knowing if you can see the difference TysonSchmidt is talking about? If I had an SSI item and a Dansk item placed beside eachother would I be able to see the differences in shape?

I actually told my mechanic to get a Dansk backdate exhaust for me. I have paused that process because of uncertaincy. I want to be absolutely sure BEFORE I pay a fortune for heat exchangers and other parts.

[rfuerst911sc]

You should be able to tell the difference between SSI and Dansk visually.I am only going by photos I have seen but the SSI seems to be a satin finish stainless where the Dansk seems to be shinier,also the perimeter welds on the 2 halves of the SSI are nice and smooth,the Dansk is almost corrugated in appearance,kind of like a pie tin.

[speeder]

rrcrawford, That muffler is a Dansk, not bad for the $$, far, far cheaper than a B&B or similar and pretty close to stock sound if not the 'sport' model. I plan on buying one from Pelican, they are in the $3-400 range. It's not going to last like a stock unit, (nothing does), but new OEM is $$$$.

As for the Dansk vs. SSI heat exchangers, not sure if you can see the difference in pipe lengths, (hidden inside of heater boxes), but someone recently posted a picture of an SSI cut open to reveal equal length pipes. The performance difference between the two is probably not measurable, but unless the Dansk is considerably cheaper it's a no-brainer, IMO. The SSIs are nicer pieces, better stainless steel, (the good stainless, *304*, will not be magnetic, cheaper s.s. is), they will last forever and are considered one of the few non-factory upgrades that increase resale value. From what I've seen, the Dansk H.E.s are being sold for SSI prices, or more.

Also, FWIW, Dansk advertises as being "OEM supplier for Porsche". This is a little misleading, they supplied the H.E.s for type 4 VW engine, (Porsche 914-4), never supplied any OEM part for the 911. The smart $$ is SSI H.E.s and a Dansk muffler, IMO and many others on this board.

rfuerst911sc & speeder

This was the kind of info I wanted. Thanks.


Can anybody remember the thread name where an SSI had been cut open? I'm guessing that the differences in shape are not visible from the outside? But then what about the special tool that's necessary for SSI's. Like Tyson said? That makes it sound like there is a difference from the outside?

rfuerst

If you have some pictures that you like to use for comparison could you please post them here or e-mail them to me? My e-mail is: Mikkel@roadfly.com

speeder

To my knowledge Dansk Autopart has been an OEM supplier for other Porsche models than just the 914. Including 911 models.

[Bill Verburg]

Here is the ssi cut away pic