Date:         Fri, 7 Dec 2001 18:27:45 -0800
Reply-To:     Ben McCafferty <ben@KBMC.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ben McCafferty <ben@KBMC.NET>
Subject:      Re: S&S Header install and a ?
Comments: To: Joel Sell <jsell@PHILA.K12.PA.US>
In-Reply-To:  <4.3.2.7.0.20011207200813.00a97410@mail.phila.k12.pa.us>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

> Here's my question:  When I started it up, right where #4 pipe bolts to the
> head started smoking. I figured it was something that had gotten on the
> pipe while I was taking it on and off, but after about 10 miles and 30
> minutes of driving (rush hour in the city), the smoking stopped, but the
> STENCH! Man, it stinks. Is this normal? I squirted all the bolts with PB
> Blaster before I removed the old exhaust, but none of the other bolt areas
> seem to be smoking. Any ideas?

I wonder if, given the bad fit on #4, you might be burning the gasket?
You'll know soon, as you'll start hearing the exhaust leak (pop, pop, pop by
the head).

> Oh yeah, one more thing, last night part of my exhaust was already about to
> fall off (that's why I ordered the header), and it did while I was out with
> some friends. WOW. Mufflers really do a good job of keeping it quiet. I had
> about 10 miles to drive home without the muffler on and I noticed my temp
> needle running much lower than normal. Normal has been right at the red
> light, but last night it was about one needle width below that. Could not
> running with a muffler cause this?

I once ran my 74 super beetle up the mountain where I lived without a
muffler or any collectors either!  Flames comin' out the holes, and what a
ride!  I think it just felt faster because every damn thing on the road was
ducking for cover!  Seriously, though, maybe reduced back pressure.  Also,
on bugs, this was bad because you would be sucking in cold air which had a
negative impact on head life....

bmc  :)