Date: Tue, 16 Nov 2004 09:18:47 -0500
Reply-To: Tom Miller <tmiller@VCMAILS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Miller <tmiller@VCMAILS.COM>
Subject: Re: S&S muffler installation - anybody got photos?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I have an S&S Header on my 89 Westy and use the Stelbro stainless muffler
with it. It works great.
TEMiller
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew G. Martin" <agmartin@GIS.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, November 15, 2004 11:16 PM
Subject: Re: S&S muffler installation - anybody got photos?
> I should proof read! This should read; "So far it is much quieter and
does
> NOT rattle like the old one did."
> AGM
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of Andrew G. Martin
> Sent: Monday, November 15, 2004 8:10 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: S&S muffler installation - anybody got photos?
>
>
> I installed a set of S&S headers and muffler on my 85 Westfalia with a
stock
> 1.9 L engine. Everything fit well but the system came with a weird
> assortment of nuts and bolts, some useful some not. I had the
transmission
> out (thanks Daryl) when I installed the exhaust so installation and
fitment
> was easy. My engine seemed to run smoother with the new exhaust although
> slightly louder than stock at idle. Within the first couple of months I
> noticed that the muffler got louder and began to rattle from the inside.
I
> spoke with and e-mailed the vendor that sold the system to me but never
got
> any real response to my problem I had hoped that it might get replaced
> under warrantee but as I said, the vendor didn't respond. I waited
> patiently for two months then ordered a new S&S muffler from a different
> vendor. I have installed it exactly the same way I installed the first
one.
> So far it is much quieter and does rattle like the old one did.
Inspection
> of the old S&S muffler revealed cracks and exhaust leaks where the
mounting
> tabs are welded to the muffler and cracks and leaks around the inlet
flange
> on the Cat side.
>
> As I said earlier, I installed the new S&S muffler exactly the same as
the
> old one. To secure the muffler to the rest of system, I used the stud
tabs
> on the rear header flanges to attach 2 stock exhaust brace/bars that I
> modified to fit. I also added a couple of exhaust pipe clamps and a piece
> of steel bar stock to secure the pipe before the Cat to the header pipe.
I
> don't see how it would fit any other way. Everything is tight and the
> entire system moves together with the engine, as it should. But I'm still
> not satisfied and I fear the new one will fail as the old one did. I know
> the new vendor will stand behind what they sell but if I have somehow I
> installed this thing incorrectly I want to know sooner rather that louder
> (pun intended) because I'm down 160 bucks. I would appreciate it if
> another S&S exhaust system user could e-mail me some photos that show how
> they installed their system and braced their muffler. I will gladly send
> back photos of mine if wanted.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Andrew
>
> Andrew G. Martin
> Gloucester MA
> agmartin@gis.net
> '85 Westfalia 165K
>
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