Turning /6 headers into heat exchangers, Just postulating Options

[Dr Evil]

A long time ago Root werks and I were going back and forth in a thread about ways to make /6 headers produce cabin heat. He had tried welding some tubing to the bottom of the headers, IIRC, and said that it worked fine until you got some air over it while driving (heat tapered off). I had an idea of tubes on each pipe that would be interconnected and would possibly tripple the heat output, but today I was thinking about it some more and came up with a better idea. I think that it would be pretty easy to have some fins welded up on the exhaust tubes along the stretch that will be boxed in on each pipe. This would increase the surface area without having to increase number of heat tubes welded to the exhaust pipes. With this idea you should be able to get pretty good heat and it shouldnt be a whole lot of work. Just fin it, box it, plumb it (cost less than $2500 or more for the HE and you still get the header performance).

Ideas?

[So.Cal.914]

If you keep postulating you'll go blind...

Copper conducts heat really well, how about wrapping the exhaust pipe with

copper tubing, braze it in place. Then box it.

[Chuck]

I'd be interested in seeing something that worked as well. Been "thinkin'" about some solutions for a while myself.

Of course, why reinvent the wheel if someone has already done it . . .

[Dr Evil]

Soft copper tubing is within my abilities (I have no welder) and you could coil it around the pipes. Maybe multiple tubes and then braise them into a common collector on each side. How to do it without it looking like complete crap, though? Interesting.

[SirAndy]

do what PMS does and simply box a section of the headers and blow air through ...

do NOT weld the box to the headers, just make two halves and pinch/press them together.

this will work fairly well ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif) Andy

(IMG:http://www.patrickmotorsports.com/parts/724.jpg)

[Ferg]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

I had something similar on my old 3.2 conversion.

Ferg

update (found 2 lousy pics)

[Dr Evil]

Ferg, were they sufficient?

[rfuerst911sc]

Or do what I am thinking about. I'm doing a /6 conversion with headers and a front mounted oil cooler. I am thinking about building a heat exchanger/box heated by the hot oil before it goes to the cooler. Seems simple enough? Just need to figure out what to use for the heat exchanger?

[Ferg]

Ferg, were they sufficient?

I seem to remember them to be fine... But my cars do not often go out in bad weather (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I had no issues on cold mornings though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[wilchek]

Doc,
does this mean that your engine is back together and giving off more than black smoke. Sounds like you will be running at Hershey???

[Dr Evil]

No....I am still awaiting a pin for my piston, but it is on its way. Sooon, sooo soooon.

[brant]

Mike,

I've been debating the heat also
Once I had a email conversation with Roots Werk about it.

I recently picked up a set of the mid year 911 heat exchangers that face the wrong way in a 911... I'm sort of brain storming using them

my plan B, is to do the box thing with stainless (or even mild steel as a prototype) I picked up some shorty headers to play with.

love this thread
brant

[Dr Evil]

I have the perfect headers for such an experiment, but I also have a cherry set of jet hot coated OE /6 exchangers (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) It doesnt stop me from trying to solve our little problems.

[Chuck]

Doc,

If you do make a set of the boxes for your headers, I'd be most appreciative if you shared your pattern and results.

I'm planning on using a set of the MSDS headers for my six conversion. Long way to go before I get there though.

[wilchek]

No....I am still awaiting a pin for my piston, but it is on its way. Sooon, sooo soooon.

Awesome, I am looking forward to seeing it run at Hershey

[IronHillRestorations]

Encapsulating mild steel exhaust pipe for heat is not recommended, just as no welds (even on stainless) should be inside the heat collector.

"did you hear the one about the medical student that got carbon monoxide poisoning?"

The fabrication on Ferg's look functional enough, but if those are mild steel headers, I no likee.

BTW, the PMS exhausts are B & B. Between 50 and 25% of the B & B have fit problems. Next set I get/sell/try will be from GHL.

http://www.ghlmotorsports.com/Merchant2/me...gory_Code=PH-NT

So a great "lifetime" set of stainless headers with heat cost $1000 more than a set of modified headers. The extra money won't come in handy if you are dead.

The oil cooler heat seems like a good idea. I know a couple guys who are trying that approach, but I don't know how it's come out.

[Dr Evil]

Ah Perry, you remind me of the reason we were thinking of using tubing (enclosed system) instead of what I was proposing in the 1st post. I guess that coiling tubing would be the only other cheap alternative.

[brant]

the factory heat exchangers (914/914-6/911) are all steel covered with steel...

look in the current classifieds to see an original 914/6 pipe rusted away

[rick 918-S]

Or do what I am thinking about. I'm doing a /6 conversion with headers and a front mounted oil cooler. I am thinking about building a heat exchanger/box heated by the hot oil before it goes to the cooler. Seems simple enough? Just need to figure out what to use for the heat exchanger?

Oil doesn't get hot enough. Your talking 300 to what over 600 deg.

[rick 918-S]

Ah Perry, you remind me of the reason we were thinking of using tubing (enclosed system) instead of what I was proposing in the 1st post. I guess that coiling tubing would be the only other cheap alternative.

Doc, I could build you a nice set of heater boxes that would be function nicely cheap. Way less that 2700.00 But you live too far away.