Heat with headers, oil heat & seat heaters

[911st]

I think a nice set of headers is sexy!

For years I had in the back of my head that one could tap into the 911's oil system to use the hot oil for heat.

Porsche actually may have done this on one of their 911 based off road race cars. They put a small aux. oil radiator in the front trunk with an electric pump and filter.

Cool!!!

My other idea is to get Recaro shell type seats and add electric seat heaters a-la Lexus style. (W plaid center cushions of course!

Happy trails...

[RarlyL8]

There is a kit on the market that uses the engine oil cooler to duct heat into the cars with headers. It does not work as well as the stock system due to the long warm up time, small area, and reduced temperatures when compared to exhaust manifolds.

[gestalt1]

i always thought this was a cool idea but not sure if it really works that well. i have no idea if this duct is sold by someone or if it has to be fabrocated. i think seat heaters are a good idea as long as your alternator is up to the task. i wonder if the oil cooler duct would work well for just defrost?

[Jack Olsen]

Coolness aside, wouldn't it be cheaper (and more effective) to simply weld on some heat exchanger boxes?

12V seat heaters are all right for California winters, but they don't defog your windshield when it's rainy or cold. Same problem with an oil-cooler exchanger -- you need defogging the most right when you start driving.

Exhaust pipes heat up fast.

[911st]

You are right. Some times my mind likes to try on new things.

Electric seat heater's in Recaro Pole Positions could save weight, I could have race headers and race style mufflers.... Yes I am in CA but it can get chilly on the way to the track at 5am.

SSI's are good but only have 1.5" tubes which work well to 4k and sound great...
B&B's w heat exchangers seem like real headers but the price and the muffler....

There is someone in Europe with cool headers. They have Cats at the collector and use the cat's heat for heating. Could work really well...

Awe yes, I guess was partaking again in mental mast...

[SCWDP911]

Originally Posted by Jack Olsen

Coolness aside, wouldn't it be cheaper (and more effective) to simply weld on some heat exchanger boxes?

12V seat heaters are all right for California winters, but they don't defog your windshield when it's rainy or cold. Same problem with an oil-cooler exchanger -- you need defogging the most right when you start driving.

Exhaust pipes heat up fast.

Thank you for bringing this up Jack... I have often wondered how hard would it be to weld, or have someone weld, some HX boxes around a section of your aftermarket headers of choice. There may be something I am not understanding about this, but it seems to be fairly straight forward to me (bring cool air in and send hotter air out). I have been wanting to use that infamous "SEARCH" button for this topic, but haven't made the time yet for this. As much heat as the stockers put in the cab, I would think one would not have to worry about design consderations too much other than making sure it is airtight , making sure you have thought about the routing of the hoses, and making sure you keep it off the ground. Am I missing something big here?

[Augustus]

How about using a hair blow dryer hooked up to the defroster ducting?

Power source?

[Won]

I can't find them now but someone posted pictures of a "heat exchanger" consisting of a large piece of tubing hose clamped around header pipes with regular heater hoses blowing air through it. I thought it was rather clever.

[gumba]

SSI's are good but only have 1.5" tubes which work well to 4k and sound great...

HuH? Where did you get that theory?

[fintstone]

Seems to me that you just can't beat SSIs.

[84toy]

If your car is not a daily driver the heated seat option really works great. I can cruise around on cool evenings completely comfortable. They get quite warm. I bought GTS classic seats for my 914 and had the heaters installed when the seats were made. The switches look factory and the hardware is small. Worth every penny....

[JohnJL]

I use hairdryers in the tarmac rally car. Works great, just need 30 second blast and everything is clear. Many of the mostly-track cars here use it since heat isnt really a necessity for most of the year. Harden up the rest of the year.

[Augustus]

Originally Posted by Jack Olsen

Coolness aside, wouldn't it be cheaper (and more effective) to simply weld on some heat exchanger boxes?

12V seat heaters are all right for California winters, but they don't defog your windshield when it's rainy or cold. Same problem with an oil-cooler exchanger -- you need defogging the most right when you start driving.

Exhaust pipes heat up fast.

I found a solution. A heated windshield.

[JP911]

Originally Posted by 911st

SSI's are good but only have 1.5" tubes which work well to 4k and sound great...
B&B's w heat exchangers seem like real headers but the price and the muffler....

Another option is 993 heat exchangers. This is the route I took on my motor. Heat works great and my 3.5 can breathe just fine.