Date:         Thu, 12 Oct 2000 13:07:55 -0400
Reply-To:     Jesse T Walz <jesse.walz@BMS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jesse T Walz <jesse.walz@BMS.COM>
Organization: Bristol-Myers Squibb
Subject:      Re: Engine & Exhaust replacement (help!)
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I bought and installed  S&S headers and muffler on my 85 gl westy.  It was rusty
within 1 month and needed to be replaced within 2 years.  If you live in the
salt belt, like I do, you may want a different system.  I also was not at all
impressed with the fit of it, but the tone was cool and helped it breath a
little better (butt dyno).  We need a stainless steel system for the 1.9!

Jesse Walz
85 vanagon gl westfalia
91 jetta gli 16v
01 golf gls 1.8t

The Bus Depot wrote:

> > What a timely question.  According to Ron Solomon (wade through recent
> > postings), the S&S product is inferior to the Dansk offering.
>
> In some ways yes, but then again they're apples and oranges.  According to
> my customers' feedback, the S&S system seems to be slightly harder to fit,
> and compared side by side with the Dansk it is definately not as heavy
> gauge.  As is the nature of header systems, it will be slightly louder, but
> also will provide slightly better performance than, a stock style system
> like the Dansk. So you get improved performance out of your Vanagon, at the
> expense of a slight volume increase and potential lifespan decrease.
> Personally, when it came to my own van, I did not opt for the S&S. I have no
> delusions about my Westy getting anywhere fast anyway, and opted for the
> Dansk's increased lifespan and relative quietness, over the slight
> performance increase afforded by the S&S.  But others on the list have
> different priorities, and some do choose the S&S for its performance
> advantages and/or its cost (which is about the same as the Dansk system on
> an '83-85, but cheaper than a Dansk system on an '86-up).  I'd say the ratio
> is about 20 Dansk systems sold to every one S&S system.  It's really a
> matter of personal preference which combination of price, performance, and
> design appeals to you.
>
> - Ron Salmon
>   The Bus Depot, Inc.
>   http://www.busdepot.com
>   (215) 234-VWVW