Heat exchanger questions

[jonrunaas]

I am in the process of both upgrading my 71 1.7 to a daily driver and a 76 2.0 engine/trans I aquired. I will mostly be driving in Northeast Iowa so I decided good heat exchangers were not optional, and purchased a used set of stainless 2.0 exchangers. They are significantly different from the exchangers on my engine, and I'm just trying to make sure they are really 2.0 pieces. I've heard that the 75-76 cars had a different exhaust than early cars, is the single exhaust shown in the picture how it is different? If somebody could help identify just what I have, I would appreciate it! Also, as shown in one of the pictures, the stainless exchangers are a little beat up, and there are some cracks and gaps. Is there any way I can plug up those holes, with a high temp expoxy or something? Thanks for the help!

[Tidybuoy]

The top 3 photos are definately 2.0 heat exchangers. You can tell because where the exhaust pipes come out at the back, they are straight (i.e, level with ground). 1.7 & 1.8 heat exchangers both curve upwards.

You can use 2.0 heat exchangers with any year & engine size 914-4 as long as you also use a matching muffler (i.e., 2.0 exchangers must be used with 2.0 muffler).

Your last photo is the later '75/76 heat exchangers. If you are smog exempt, I would get rid of them. The later style merged 2 pipes into one and then went into a catalitic converter setup. These exchangers are more restrictive & the ordinary 2.0's are much better.

Also, whatever you go with. You will also need a matching muffler hanger.

Vern

[Bleyseng]

The early 2.0l SSI ones with work with all your existing heating parts. The later 75-76 HE's are pretty crappy.
Order the proper 2.0l muffler hanger!

Geoff

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Ouch, those SSIs have seen better days! You might be able to patch them by welding, if you have a setup that can weld SS. Or by brazing, if you can do that. Or, if you really want to cheap out and the holes are small enough, you might be able to use aluminized heater flue tape as a temporary measure. (No, not "duct tape"--the real foil heater flue tape!)

--DD

[jonrunaas]

Thanks for the info guys! I really appreciate it

[Tidybuoy]

It does look like your ss heat exchangers have some dents. But, they will still work it the dents are not too bad.

It's important that the heat exchanging part is welded to the exhaust pipes otherwise they will rattle. But if they are fairly tight & just dented, I would go ahead and use them.

You can use Eazy Off Oven cleaner on them and they will really clean up.

Vern

[ovilla]

Spray them with WD-40 and then get yourself a wirewheel that can be attached to a drill and go to town on those heat exchangers. They will shine like a brand new stainless steel sink. Then for a finishing touch get a steel bristle brush (the one with the long wooden handel and brush your heat exchangers all in one direction (following the curved radius of the pipes - going from the drivers side to the passengers side). They will look like a set of $500 ebay HE's. Also, if you don't have access to a welder go to any muffler shop and ask them how much to do your welding for you. I bet for $20 they'll take care of you. Oh, don't forget to clean the inside with plenty of degreaser and oven cleaner. You don't want to be smelling like oil every time you turn on the heat. Have fun! Oh, very last thing. Sometimes HE's seem to not line up correctly when being installed. Get yourself a really long steel file that can be used to file/rasp against both HE mating surfaces. This will ensure that both ends are perfectly flat and will line up nicely against new copper O-rings.