Date:         Mon, 22 Jul 2002 15:32:40 -0400
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: installing muffler and cat questions
Comments: cc: Oxroad@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <03FE839E.250D6830.00052E1D@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> The Bosal cat is part number 099-046 4397.
> I thought the cat might be inferior and figured i didn't want to
> use a "universal" cat. So, I looked at Bus Depot and noted they
> use the same part number for the cat on an early Vanagon and a
> Later Vanagon. (BD does not use the Bosal part number noted
> above, but has the number 22918 and I do not know what brand BD
> sells.) This makes me think the only non-VW dealer cats available
> might be these cats that have several applications. And I'm
> guessing the VW dealer cat is cost prohibitive.
> Does anyone have experience with these cats with several Vanagon
> applications? And are they satisfactory? Is Bosal a reputable
> manufacturer of cats?


The only difference between the stock '83-85 cat and the '86-91 one was the
existence of a hole for the 02 sensor. VW used two separate part numbers,
one with a hole and one without. Many aftermarket companies have made this
more cost-effective by simply making a single version and including a
screw-in plug for those applications that don't take an 02 sensor in the cat
('83-85 Vanagon). There is no downside to this (just make sure to screw the
plug in tightly), and it does save a bit of money.

Bosal is not the manufacturer of the particular cat converter that you
bought; they're simply a middleman who is relabling (and marking up) another
manufacturer's unit. However, I am familiar with the factory that makes that
particular unit and it is a quality product, so I wouldn't worry if I were
you.  The only reason that we don't sell the Bosal cat is that we buy our
cat's factory-direct (from a U.S. manufacturer that builds a comparable
product).

FYI, our cat converter, part number 22918, is $95 with listmember discount
(and has a stainless steel body).

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  (215) 234-VWVW
  www.busdepot.com

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