Date:         Wed, 11 Oct 2000 14:45:41 -0400
Reply-To:     Karl Mullendore <thewestyman@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Karl Mullendore <thewestyman@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Re: complaints / Dansk Exhaust / Ford Purchase Recommendation
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

It's time for me to spew my 2 cents on this already sore subject.

Contrary to the opinion that Dansk parts are junk, I believe if you were to
compare them to 'OEM' VW exhaust parts, you will be shocked to see that they
are of the same quality. In fact, more than once I have received Dansk
pieces FROM the dealer. And yes, more than once I have also had to
'persuade' the pipe to fit over the exhaust studs. This is a given, whether
the pipes come from VW, Bus Depot, or where-the-heck ever!
Machining/fabricating tolerances aren't ever exact on waterboxer pipes.

On to a solution: an easy one: bolt in place the side that uses bolts into
the head, tighten down loosely, then use a large channel-lock pliers to
lever the pipe over the studs of the opposite side. That's it, easy! No
reason for all this banter and giving Ron grief, just suck it in and realize
that seldom are parts 'perfect' in a non-perfect world.

Karl Mullendore
Westy Ventures
1987 Syncro Westfalia 1.9TD

----- Original Message -----
From: Rico Sapolich <JKrevnov@AOL.COM>

> This has nothing to do with the eccentricities of the Vanagon.  A few
years
> ago, Eli Whitney came up with a pretty fair idea.  He called it the System
of
> Interchangeable Manufacture.  As far as I have been able to determine,
> although VW has heard of it, Dansk has not been turned on to the idea.
>
> These are replacement parts, not kits.  If you accept the kind of
> machinations that are needed in order to bolt up the Dansk parts, then
your
> expectations are too low.  Today, in the real world, CNC machines are
> spitting out parts to tolerances about which jig makers (the cream of the
> crop in machinistdom) used to dream.  It certainly is reasonable to expect
a
> simple flanged fab piece to hit 3 points.  Contrary to what you profess,
it
> has been my experience that VW is able to accomplish this minor feat.  No
> 3/16 inch thick shims; no opening up the mounting holes; no application of
> the Blue Wrench.  The VW pipes bolt up; it is that simple.  Do you
honestly
> think at VW you would ever hear Fritz yell,"Hey, Hans!  Stop the line!  I
> have to get the torch."
>
> When my 2nd Dansk system gave up the ghost in short order, I went in
search
> of a stainless system.  This led me to call a guy from NH who advertises
in
> the Limbo newsletter.  At the time, he knew of no one making stainless
pipes.
>  He said that he uses VW pipes which last about 90kmi, so, what more can I
> want.  Words of wisdom from an honest man in the Salt Belt.
>
> I am satisfied that the VW pieces fit better.  And, I KNOW they last
longer.
> But, I am not certain that they cost more.  To check on this I managed to
> locate my invoice from a VW dealer for a Syncro rear connection pipe (P/N
025
> 251 172P).  The list was $206.50 and the net was $165.20.  The BD listing
for
> this part has it priced at $179.95 plus shipping.  Is this cheaper?  I
saved
> even more when I went back for a J-pipe because the parts guy was good
enough
> to set up a wholesale account for me.
>