Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2005 09:15:45 -0400
Reply-To: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: S&S Header Exhaust System
In-Reply-To: <11dcddf80506180549646fa705@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
I have sold these for many years an installed them many times. However
in the last couple of years the fitment quality of them has gone down to
the point that every one I am getting needs to be tweaked in order for
the pipes to fit properly. I usually bolt it to a bare engine and then
bend one or two of the pipes by sliding a longer pipe over the end of
the header pipe and pulling. Usually they are only off by a few degrees
but enough so that things don't line up. Now I always tell people about
this before they buy (it has stopped the returns I was getting on the
systems). This work is not that difficult or complicated, yet most
people (like myself) would like the system to fit right out of the box
without any messing around. I have told S&S about the problem several
times and as far as I know they have done nothing to fix the problem
(one of thier jigs is off).
As for ceramic coating. My experience with this with S&S and two other
coaters is that ceramic coating is a life extender, not a lifetime
coating. In other words, you should expect the coating to make the
pipes last longer than normal but don't expect the coating to be shiny
forever or to last forever.
Normal lifespan of S&S headers varies according to where you live and if
you drive the van in the winter in the salt zones. Salt zone, daily
driver summer and winter the systems should last about 4 to 5 years
normally. With the ceramic coating you may get a couple more years out
of them.
S&S system claims more power, but I have never experienced this. It is
a bit louder than stock because of the muffler. You can use a stock
muffler with the S&S header to avoid the extra loudness. Loudness is
not that much and I have driven a van with the system on it for 14 hour
drives without it annoying me.
The stock system costs more, yet it fits with no problems, and lasts
longer than the S&S. If you are not happy about bending pipes and you
are going to keep the van I would go with the stock system.
Ready to sell stock or S&S systems,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
Christopher Gronski wrote:
>Hello Volks,
>
>I need to replace my exhaust system and have been eying the S&S Header
>Exaust Systems. Bus Depot indicates that they are "not quite as heavy
>duty as the stock system". Has anyone had experience with them? How
>many years can I expect out of them? Is the install straightforward?
>Any power gain? Is the ceramic coating worth it?
>
>Thanks,
>Chris
>'86 Syncro Westy
>
>
>
