1.7 vs 2.0 heat exchangers differ at the end?
 

Hi there,

I' ve encountered a unexpected problem in trying to mount a 2.0l muffler to 1.7l heat exchangers.
The distance between the 1.7l heat exchangers and the 2.0l muffler differ!
When I measure the distance from the 1.7l exchangers, it is about 55cm. The muffler however has a distance at that point of 50.2cm.
Is this normal? can I losen the nuts at the cylinder head and try to narrow the distance to obtain a fit for the muffler?
Any Suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

Marc
Zele
Belgium

I've done this before. A long time ago when I was a broke student, my 2.0L heat exchangers were rusted out and I had a set of SS 1.7 ones I put on.

The ends of the 1.7L and 2.0L exchangers are different. Loosening the nuts at the head will not help. You'll need to either buy a 1.7L muffler or cut and weld the 1.7L muffler flanges to the 2.0L muffler.

Nostril Cheese,

Thanks for sharing Your experience.
I'll know what to do.

Greetings,

Marc
Zele
Belgium

You need to have the exchangers, muffler, and muffler hanger all match. They all either have to be 1.7 style (also used on 74 1.8s), the 2.0 style, or the 75-76 style. Cutting the flanges off the muffler and welding new ones on are not going to get you enough adjustment (that I can see).

Just get the right part for your car.

--DD

Also look for a muffler from a VW 411 or 412. I believe that those were interchangeable with the 914 1.7 mufflers as well. Double-check the measurements and size of the muffler flanges before you buy, of course, in case I'm wrong.

Note that the exhaust pipe tip may be in a slightly different location with those. I'm not sure what the measurements would be for either version, though.

--DD

the 1.7 heater exchanger pipes bend upwards at the muffler end. the 2.0 heater exchanger pipes are a straight shot to the muffler. Hence the 1.7 muffler has higher up inlet ports than the lower port 2.0 liter muffler.

Also note that you may have trouble with the muffler hanger if putting 2.0 liter exhaust on an early tail shift transmission equipped car. You can make a new hanger with two pieces of strap metal if you need to.

the fix for you is either get a complete 2.0 or 1.7 exhaust system you cant mix parts here. also note that aftermarket header type exhaust also come in 1.7 and the different 2.0 types.

Not only are the pipes for the 1.7 further off the ground than those for a 2.0, but they are also a different distance apart.

Here is an illustration from Jeff Bowlsby's Tech Notebook site, found at http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/TechNotebook.htm :

http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/zTN_Exh_MufflerID.jpg

--DD