Heat exchanger vs headers

[mikey911]

This may be a stupid question. What is the difference between heat excahngers and headers. Is one more favorable over another. I live in Florida so heat inside is not necessary.

Any advice would be appreciated

Mike
75 911S

[Joe Bob]

Headers are cheap....heat exchangers are not....if you don't need heat....go with headers....

Headers usually have a larger diameter and let an engine breathe better....but stock engines actually like stock exhaust....

[JeremyD]

Where in Florida are you mikey?

[Bill Verburg]

Some heat exchangers, like SSI & B&B are headers with heater boxes wrapped around them

Here is a pic of SSI w/ one of the heater box covers cut away


Factory exhaust '75 -94 is also a header w/ a heater box wrapped around it, it's just not the optimum design to take advantage of any 5 ^th cycle effect that may be present

here is a 964 header w/ heater box cut away

[tswaney]

Do heat exchangers help with heat removal vs. headers? I don't know if my question makes sense.

Do headers allow exhaust heat to remain in the vicinity of the engine, whereas HE use fan air to duct it away?

[JeremyD]

Nope - just help you keep your tootsies warm in those cold climates...

[WydRyd]

If you don't need the heat because you live in a warm climate all year round, replace the heat exchangers with stainless steel headers.

Headers would weigh a lot less too

[Steeve]

So allow me to add my ignorance to this post. I live in Houston, so I have an abundance of heat. Is everyone saying that I have heat exchangers that I can replace with headers, and I will benefit from this swap?

Thanks!!!

[JeremyD]

Headers (B & B) with integrated HE's

[dd74]

Originally posted by Steeve
So allow me to add my ignorance to this post. I live in Houston, so I have an abundance of heat. Is everyone saying that I have heat exchangers that I can replace with headers, and I will benefit from this swap?

Thanks!!!

Probably - but headers for a 3.2, IIRC, are big bucks, compared to those for a smaller engine. Bursch makes a header for the 3.0 and under that is fairly reasonable.

[dd74]

Steve in Houston - if you're interested, you might want to see what Michigan Mat is selling...

3.2 B&B Headers + Muffler + Oil lines - $1500

[gerard vaglio]

Heat exchangers are the stock exhaust that came with your car, it's an exhaust sytem that also allows you to have heat.

Headers can come with or without the heat option but headers are generally considered a high performance exhaust system made up of equal length exhaust tubes that allow the exhaust pulses from pistons to exit without getting in each others way.

Ideally, this produces more hp, say, 10-18hp on a 3.0 for example.

Was that your question?

[Kroggers]

So, is the SSI's heat exchangers or headers with the heat option??

[mikey911]

Does not installing the heat exchangers also eliminate use of the defroster? It does rain alot in Fl. Thanks for all of the tips.

mike
911s

[Bill Verburg]

Originally posted by Kroggers
So, is the SSI's heat exchangers or headers with the heat option??

Did you read post #4 above? A heat exchanger is just a sheet of tin wrapped around a set of header tubes. Cabin air is pumped through, absorbs heat and continues to the chassis.

[Kroggers]

Yes i did read it, but I am Norwegian - I drink Beer and do all the other normal viking related activities . Understanding the written text is not an important part of my day-to-day needs! I will try to refrain from stupid uneducated questions in the future

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by Steeve
So allow me to add my ignorance to this post. I live in Houston, so I have an abundance of heat. Is everyone saying that I have heat exchangers that I can replace with headers, and I will benefit from this swap?

Thanks!!!

Steve,

You may not need heat but how about defrost in the winter? Insides of the windscreen get misty or need clearing? I thought I did not need heat either (Phoenix is rather warm most of the time) but there are times during the fall and winter when the windows need clearing and a touch of heat sure helps.

Get some SSI's or B&B's and you have the best of both worlds.

Joe A

[Carrera3.5L]

Originally posted by dd74
Probably - but headers for a 3.2, IIRC, are big bucks, compared to those for a smaller engine. Bursch makes a header for the 3.0 and under that is fairly reasonable.

You can buy inexpensive headers for any displacement motor and in a variety of diameters, not just for 3.0L and under. Price generally depends on the grade of materials being used. These are 1 5/8" OD mild steel headers with adaptor pipes for a street muffler that have been ceramic coated inside & out for under $600.



Headers made in higher grades of stainless steel (T304 or T321 for example) will be much more expensive.

Ralph

[Paulporsche]

Tom,
Heat exchangers actually DO help with removing heat from the engine. One trick to help keep the engine cooler in summer is to pull up on the red levers just a little which will dump some heat from the engine compartment without heating the cabin.

Mike,
If you don't have heat then you won't have the type of defrost that actually melts frost (like we need up here in winter). However, if you just need demisting you may be OK w/ just the fan blowing ambient air.

Pal,
Don't be afraid to ask "stupid" questions. Everyone's got them. A few "stupid" answers have been posted too. Don't ask me how I know.

[deoxford]

Are there any effect of run headers with a 2.4 MFI engine? Backpressure?