Out with the old, in with the older, SS exchangers replacing '75 crapola Options

[rjames]

Finally got the old exchangers off. What a gigantic PITA. I figured they'd fall right off after removing the exhaust stud bolts, but noooooooo. It took about 1 hour of coaxing per side (and a ton of cursing) before they let go.

Here's the old: (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon8.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif)

[Chris Pincetich]

Good idea to test fit the ducting before installing the HEs. On mine, the small elbow heading tot he cabin was so tight I had to remove the HE after install to get the leverage and alignment to get that sucker on there. Some sanding and a little bending were needed. For cleaning the ducting, I used my shop vac to suck out some scum in both the ducting parts and in my heater tubes at both ends of the car (dust and crap in there!!), then old rags soaked in simple green pulled through. You can fish line some string through, then pull the rag through and it scrubs the inside of the tube. Oh yeah, I soaked them first too, the grime was caked on there good. I totally reccomend that you tighten everything 90-100%, then drive, then re-tighten 100% approach for this project. Between road and engine vibration, the parts tend to wiggle into their final resting places. Good luck (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

If you're feeling frisky, mount the 2 HEs loosely to the muffler on the bench, then with some extra stands, postion the whole thing under there and bolt it all on at once! Even without the muffler, I think I used an extra stand to prop up the HE during install to make sure there wasn't 20 lbs resting on one rusty exhaust stud during the instal.

Another tip: if the exhaust stud comes out of the head it can be replaced with a new one! I was super nervous about my rusty studs, and replaced almost all of them during the HE instal. Some wouldn't budge out of the head, so I left them in. Not perfect, but better in my book.