Date:         Sun, 5 May 2002 23:04:29 -0400
Reply-To:     John Lunetta <blun1432@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Lunetta <blun1432@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject:      S&S Exhaust
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This weekend I installed a complete S&S Exhaust system on my 1990 vanagon.
 First I want to warn anybody that if you plan on doing the same set aside plenty of time like at least 3 days. Removing the old one takes nerves of steel when removing the nuts off the studs, and the bolts that mount the header pipes to the ALUMINUM heads. I was lucky, the bolts came out without breaking and the studs all remained intact. The treads were all good. The rest of the system can be removed with out worry since you don't need any of the old brackets. The new system went in with moderate difficulty. Every thing fit good and the muffler bolts right up to the holes where the old brackets were mounted. After starting up the engine there was a leak at the catalitic converter to muffler flange. I thought this was because I put the metal gasket in the wrong way. Well I did not know if was or not since there are know real instructions. So I removed it and reversed it, no good still leaked. So I removed it again and added a fiber gasket with the metal one, this worked. Now the only problem is that one of the engine pipes at the rear of the engine that crosses under the transmission is to close to the trans and is hitting and causing a vibration. This is clearly a design flaw. Tomorrow I am going under the van again and attemt to rectify the problem. I am also going to call Ken at Vanagain and see if he has any suggestions. I would like to know if anyone else on the list has done this job?
Thanks John 1990 vanagon gl