Date:         Sat, 5 Aug 2000 21:23:11 -0000
Reply-To:     Chuck Roehm <roehm1@midwest.net>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chuck Roehm <roehm1@midwest.net>
Subject:      Mufflers & Waterpumps
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

        Over the 10 years and 80k miles I have owned my '86 Westy, there have been
two recurring maintenance themes with which most of you, I am sure, are
familiar:  exhaust system components (especially mufflers), and waterpumps.
 Recently I solved the muffler problem for good by installing the Stebro
stainless unit.  A nice looking unit, sounds great, easy to install.  I
haven't taken a trip with it yet to tell about mpg, but it is a
straight-through design (basically a giant glass-pack) which is bound to
lower back-pressure some and that certainly can't hurt the mpg. The entire
assembly weighs about 4 pounds more than the OE muffler-tailpipe-bracket
setup (this info is just for you other Porsche guys).   :-)    Hopefully
Stebro will have their stainless headers in production by the time I have
to do those again.  If anyone can use my OE brackets, straps, and tailpipe
(brackets are like new, straps are pretty rusty but probably good for one
more muffler, tailpipe is decent) p-mail me and I will send them to you for
just the cost of UPS, I HATE to throw out stuff someone might be able to
use!
        My latest waterpump, only about one year old, is starting to make noises
like it is about to go.  The last one started to make the same noises, then
let go suddenly on the Interstate, without ever first leaking a drop.  This
one is not leaking, either, but I don't want to press my luck.  Do you guys
have any suggestions for prolonging the life of these things?  I am careful
not to tighten the belt any more than necessary to keep the alternator from
slipping, and I always use phosphate-free anti-freeze.  How about it Ron or
Ken (BTW I need your catalogs), do you guys have pumps available that are
better than what the FLAPS places sell?  Also on the subject of coolant,
who carries coolant hoses?  Recently I had to replace one hose and that
turned into a BIG deal because none of my usual VW parts suppliers carries
them, "dealer only" is what they all told me, and the dealer is where I
ended up.  Thanks for the advice, I thought I knew quite a bit about
Vanagons, but I learn something new from this list almost every day!

        Chuck Roehm
        '86 Westy Weekender