What am I missing here?

[Special K]

I've got a new 2.0L muffler hanger that won't seem to fit. The engine and tranny are still in the stand (VERY convenient thing to have), and I thought that I'd install the exhaust, the fuel lines, rig a little wiring and do the initial start-up/ break-in right there in the garage. Here's the problem, the hanger hits the back of the tranny where it sticks out from the speedo gear (the bump on the ass-end of the trans.). Are there spacers that go between the tranny and hanger? Neither 914 was sporting exhaust hangers when I got them, so I'm not sure what I'm missing as far as parts go, and I can't find any drawings/pics that show anything other than the hanger just mounting straight on the transmission.

[DDS]

Are you sure you have the right hanger? It should just bolt on. This pic shows a NOS 914/6 hanger (the fat one - same as 2.0) compared to a 1.7 hanger. The 1.7 heat exchangers have more of a bend upward to the muffler flange.

[WOODPIE]

Hello

I will give this a stab, as I was under one of my cars just today. My '73 needs some exhaust stud attention, and while in the process, thought I would put on a new hanger--one that I bought from PP a year ago for my '75. Wrong. The '75 style hanger has an offset bent into it, and the whole unit and muffler bolt holes are set wider than earlier models. IIRC, PP no longer has the earlier style listed as available in the catalogue. With no offset, it might be an easy thing to make, as I might try to do. So, do you have the correct model year hanger for your car?

Ed

[Kevin Powers]

the 75 &76 heat exch were drastically dif from the earlier ones. i just looked at me. is the speedo drive assem. in sort of a verticle orientation 12 to6? or more like 3 to9?you might have to turn the drive housing so that the point where the cable enters points more towards the front of the car. that's the only way i can see it interfering with the hanger bracket

[Special K]

In the pictures above, I have the upper (narrower, fatter) type. The heat exchangers and the engine are both 2.0L for sure. But why would the hanger make contact with the tranny? If I tighten down the attach nuts, the hanger rides hard against the tranny. I tried to take a picture, but too dark, couldn't make out anything. It looks like I could put a couple of fat washers on the studs prior to installing the hanger and that might give me some clearance. "Ponderous!!"

[DDS]

So it's as if your heat exchangers are a bit too short? Why not just bend the hanger a bit or shim it as you suggest.

I had a tough time time with mine also. Obviously make sure the bends in the hanger are going the right direction (can't remember which way they point right now). Make sure your arms have a bend in them (the hanger hasn't been squished flat).

You may even have to loosen your heat exchangers off your heads and get everything to line up before cinching it all down.

HTH

[Special K]

Daylight came, and my crappy digicam will take a pseudo-descent pic again. This is looking down on the tranny. Notice the bump on the back of the tranny and how it rides on the exhaust hanger. The hanger is a NOS OEM part and I don't believe it's been altered in any way. Anyone elses hanger ride like this. I'll try to get the side view too, but no gaurantees (Read: No computer wiz here).

[Jim Chambers]

I recently installed 2.0 bracket on back of side shift transmission on my 6 with headers. Bracket rode solid against trans. "bump" when tightened. Parts manual shows no washers/shims between bracket and trans. end cover. I figure that is just the way it was designed. Probably could shim with one or two washers if desired.

[Special K]

Yeah, that's what I'll end up doing. Shim it out and maybe even slide a thin strip of rubber between them just to make sure that they keep their distance. I can confirm one thing that the P.O. proved, running without a hanger is rough on the heads, I had to have two of the exhaust ports welded because they were cracked, I assume from all that weight "dangling" around back there. Thanks for the input everyone!

[Otto]

There are three types of muffler hangers for the 914s. Get the right one for your car and you won't have to jump through hoops to get the job done. Why a muffler bracket??? Because all that weight at the far extremities of your car will pull all the exhaust studs out of the heads. OTTO

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

On both of my 74s, the housing for the speedo drive shaft had a little "notch" on it where the muffler hanger went. If it was from wear, it was consistent on both of them. No washers or spacers between the tail-cone and the bracket.

--DD

[Special K]

Otto, I thought I had the right one. Actually I thought there were only two different hangers for the 914-4, both shown in a pic up the post a bit. As for "Why a muffler bracket???", well it's the same reason big breasted women must wear a bra, to keep from saggin' and eventually draggin'......

Dave, no notch on the '73's, too crappy outside to check out the '75's but I'll check that when it stops raining. A flat washer on each side took care of the clearance problem, I just thought that it was kind of odd for the parts to ride like that.

[Jim Chambers]

Otto as usual is correct, but my experience is that the early 2.0 bracket is virtually identical to the 914-6 version. Size of the bolt slots on the ends seems to be the only difference. Anyway, 2.0 4cyl. bracket is on my six (resting tight against the transmission!).

[Special K]

Jadams can back me up here-- Parts riding against each other -Baaaaaaad, Positive clearance between parts-Goooooood.

And Jadams, good luck with the JSF! They should shoot the
guy(s) that designed our (Boeing) version, the absolute ugliest aircraft I've ever seen in person (well, they had a mock-up out here).

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I'll agree with you on the Boeing JSF, Special K. But then, the Lockheed one ain't no beauty queen either!

I've worked on both of those programs as an outside contractor--made it "interesting" trying to reassure everyone that there was no cross-contamination...

--DD

[Jim Chambers]

I think we are making something of a non-issue. Isn't this all one rigid assembly making contact: exhaust bolted to heads, heads bolted to engine case, engine case bolted to transaxle case, trans.case bolted to nose cone, cone bolted to bracket, bracket bolted to exhaust........leg bone connected to the foot bone.
Seems to me there is a lot of metal to metal contact in the machine besides the bracket touching the transmission! It's OK.
In fact, the bracket snug up against the trans. might reduce independent vibration and result in less stress on the exhaust/heads.