Should heat exchangers move at all?

On my recent road trip I noticed a slight squeak coming from the rear on rough roads After much frustration I found where the noise was coming from my rear heat exchanger would move slightly vertical because I had removed my heater hose to replace it and was waiting for the part.Since replacing the hose it no longer rattles but should the heat exchanger move at all?

This is just the body of the heat exch moving ,the exhaust pipes from the heads is tight

No, it is not supposed to move, but I think that it is fairly common that it would move around a bit on a car as old as an SC, or a 914. It seems that the sheetmetal of the exchangers is not attached to the header tubes very securely.

As long as your heat exchangers otherwise look solid, I would not worry about it.

Brian

I have noticed the same thing on my 73 'S' on really bad roads at low speeds. It seems perfectly normal to me considering you have two pieces of stamped, thin sheet metal crimped together at the ouside edges 20-30 years ago, and they are resting on four tubes that make up the exhaust 'header' ... I suppose you could minimize play between the tubes and the sheet metal by threading some 0.030" safety wire in the gap ... then wedge some folded sheet metal shims in the gap and tack them into place with a MIG wire welding 'gun' ... but personally the squeak never bothered me that much!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

Thanks for the info,I guess i'll put up with it till I find some used SSI s and exhaust

T

[This message has been edited by jryerson (edited 01-13-2000).]