Another muffler identification request

[andreic]

I also need help identifying a muffler. It is currently on my 1974 Porsche 914 1.8L. I took the engine/tranny out yesterday to replace the engine with a freshly rebuilt one.

The problem is that the previous owner seems to have replaced the exhaust headers with newer ones the style that have stainless steel heat exchangers. Something is wrong with the whole setup, in that the muffler sits too far back in the car, and hits the heat shield in the back of the car (and squeaks when going over bumps). Also, the muffler bracket is about a 1/2" away from the transmission where it is screwed into the body of the transmission. It all behaves as if the heat exchanger tubes are 1/2"-1" too long. Could that be possible?

Since the heat exchangers are the most expensive part of the whole setup, I'd like to keep them, and figure out what muffler to put on so that it will fit well.

Here are photos of the current muffler. All I could see written on it is "Made in W. Germany." Is this a 914 muffler? Or is the whole setup a Frankenstein mismatch?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Looks like your exchangers have the "kick up" near the back, so they should be the 1.7/early 1.8 style. The muffler hanger looks to my eye like a 2.0 version, though?

Here are a couple of images from Jeff Bowlsby's tech site:

Muffler hangers:



Measurement of muffler flange spacing:



Double-check the measurement on the flanges, and compare to the muffler hanger.

--DD

[andreic]

OK, I've measured, and everything points out to a mismatched system, with 1.7/1.8 early style heat exchangers, and 2.0L (early style) hanger and muffler. The hanger appears to have two extra holes that were drilled into it, lower down, to accommodate the higher position of the muffler.

My main question is if I can hope to sell the muffler and hanger bracket (and how much I can hope to get for them) to cover the cost of a new muffler and bracket of the correct size. What would my current muffler and hanger be worth? I am assuming that the muffler is a genuine Porsche original part (given the "Made in W. Germany" inscription on it). The bracket is definitely a genuine Porsche OEM part.

Thanks,
Andrei.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Double-check the measurements in the second image--the mounting points for the 2.0 muffler are closer together than those for the 1.7/1.8 muffler. They shouldn't be able to bolt together; if they do then something has really been monkeyed with!

--DD

[andreic]

I will double check tomorrow, but I think the distance between the innermost bolts (where the bracket mounts) is 19 3/4". Certainly not 21.5". Could it be that whoever installed the muffler pulled hard on the heat exchange tubes to use their elasticity to make them fit?

I'll try to take the muffler off and see if the heat exchange tubes stretch out to 21.5" by themselves. But the nuts are very rusted, I fear I may break a few bolts when I try taking them out.

Andrei.

[andreic]

OK, mystery solved. The previous owner installed a 2.0L muffler (early style) and bracket onto 1.8L (early style) heat exchangers, by redrilling the mounting bracket to mount it higher, and by pulling hard on the heat exchangers to get them to fit the narrower spacing of the 2.0L muffler intakes. When I removed the muffler the heat exchangers broke free to have the correct distance.

Again, my question is if people think the muffler and bracket are worth anything -- the muffler appears to be original, all it says is "Made in W. Germany" on it. It is in good condition.

I also have a separate question. When I removed the CV joints from the transmission, it appears that the previous owner had put some kind of silicone sealant to form a gasket between the mating surfaces of the CV joint and the transmission. Is this standard procedure? What kind of sealant should I use?

Thanks,
Andrei.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Ouch, I was afraid it was something like that. Hopefully the exchangers aren't tweaked, and the exhaust studs aren't messed up...

The 2.0 muffler and hanger are worth something, but I don't know how much. Try hunting around in the classifieds to see what people are asking for them.

There is a cardboard-type gasket that is supposed to go between the CV joint and the drive flange. Some people prefer to leave it out.

--DD