SSI vs. headers vs. what?

rfuerst911sc · 02-20-2003, 01:24 PM

I am in the process of backdating my 1983-911SC to a early style exhaust,I have purchased a early style 2 in 1 out muffler but now need to so something regarding the heat exchangers/headers.I live in Florida so heat is not a necessity but it is nice to have,what are you guys running out there?I know SSI's are nice but pricey,then there is the standard steel heat exchanger,then aftermarket headers either new or used,whats everybody think?Anybody have anything for sale?Thanks

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Besides headers and SSIs, there are the other stainless copies of the early style, mild steel heat exchangers.....they work as well.....just not stainless and as pretty.

jhugh · 02-20-2003, 01:34 PM

Good thing you already have your muffler... keep in mind that if you ever go with one of the US-made whole-system deals, a la B&B or GHL, the setup will be EXTREMELY LOUD.

Last weekend I was in Parts Heaven gettin some gaskets. I got a chance to browse through the warehouse. They have an absolutely sick mountain of used exhaust components in there. I almost bought an old B&B header setup for a 930, figuring it would be cheap enough that I could save a lot of money by fabbing it into whatever configuration I wanted. Anyway, give them a call, or go visit a similar kind of place (Porsche wreckers) in your neck o' the woods.

Cheers,

slammed1000 · 02-20-2003, 01:44 PM

if i was living in florida, i would use stainless if you can afford it. the salt down there corrodes everything and with stainless you will never have to worry about rust and corrosion issues. you can purchase headers or heatexchangers in stainless. check out ebay , there has been several sets of headers on there lately.

TimT · 02-20-2003, 01:53 PM

You could just get some mild steel headers, dunno if Pelican sells them (GT racing has them). Then get them coated to protect them from the elements. This will be about $700 ( the mild headers are about $450). Or you could buy SSI's which are an amazing work of art for about $900? dunno what Pelican is getting for them now.

Id just get the SSI's

Harlan Chinn · Harlan Chinn's Garage

I just had SSI's and a stainless 2 in 1 exhaust put on my 82 SC last November. The SSI's are definitely works of art unfortunately they're underneath the car. Be certain that the 2 into 1 muffler you have is for later year cars (74 on). A mail order parts place (Not our sponser) sold me the wrong year 2 into 1 muffler, shipped it to my mechanic who was only following my instructions to install the system, ended up cutting about 1/2" off of my rear valence. The muffler they sold me was a stainless one for 65-73 car which are narrower bodied cars. The exit pipe on this muffler was also exiting 1/8" off of the bottom of the bumper. You'll find which ever muffler/header/heat exchanger system you select, that the stainless finish will be most resilient to your environment in Florida.

jluetjen · jluetjen's Garage

Quote:

and SSIs, there are the other stainless copies of the early style, mild steel heat exchangers

Isn't that what SSI's are? Stainless copies of the early style heat exchangers (with a couple of detail changes)?

Quote:

You could just get some mild steel headers,

As far as I know the cheapest way to do this is to get some stock early style heat exchangers and cut off the heater boxes. Voila! Headers. The only real difference that I've seen between "headers" and the routing of the stock early exhausts is that "headers" stop right at the junction of the primaries to allow space for megaphones, while the stock systems have a length of secondary to allow the system to hook up to a stock style muffler. Nothing that a few minutes with a saw and a welder couldn't fix.