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Posted by: rickso71 Dec 2 2004, 10:54 PM

Is it possible to heat the windshield and passenger compartment in a car with headers? I wouldn't trust a gas heater but was thinking about stuffing a couple of 12V camping hair dryers in the heater ducts. Would probably only be a few hundred watts but might be enough for comfort in early spring and late fall.

Posted by: Mueller Dec 2 2004, 11:13 PM

basicly, heat exchangers are headers, but with sheetmetal surrounding them to capture some of the heat

for a /4 motor, the h/e's are not the most efficient design flow wise, but they are more or less "headers" already

aftermarket "headers" for the /4 motors are designed to weigh less and flow better.....add some ducting in a similar fashion and you have heat!!!!!!

soem people have had success with electric heaters, do a search here, it's been brought up a gazillion time with what works and does not work and the +/-'s of them

Posted by: trekkor Dec 2 2004, 11:24 PM

So, light guage steel in the form of a box with ducting and the blower moter could get it done?

KT

Posted by: MattR Dec 2 2004, 11:24 PM

It was always my understanding that headers were an option for manifolds, and manifolds were cast. Is this true? Or am I oversimplifying?

Posted by: Mueller Dec 2 2004, 11:48 PM

that is how I interpret it.....one single piece with multiple inlets/outlets is a manifold

if you have seen the exhaust on a '75/76 1.8 or 2.0, I consider those to be exhaust manifolds that bolt to the head, those in turn are bolted to heat exchangers, but they are not headers....for a '74 and older car, the exhaust consists of a single pipes that converge at the muffler assembly....I really wouldn't consider them "headers" since their secondary function is to help provide heat...but they are a form of a modified header

by "captureing" hot air surrounding the the tube(s), you have made a heat exchanger

confused now?? hahahhaa

Posted by: McMark Dec 3 2004, 03:30 AM

Gas heaters get a bad wrap. <_<

Posted by: Racer Chris Dec 3 2004, 06:36 AM

This link goes to my http://www.tangerineracing.com/Super_Header.htm page.
about 3/4 down to the bottom you will find the heat exchanger section.
So, to answer your question, yes it is possible to heat the windshield and passenger compartment in a car with headers.

Posted by: Racer Chris Dec 3 2004, 06:37 AM

I don't think there's anything wrong with gas heaters, but it would be hard to find a suitable installation location in a 914.