Date:         Sat, 13 Aug 2005 16:05:04 -0400
Reply-To:     Ed <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ed <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      1.9 exhaust install
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I was a little afraid to tackle installing the header pipes (all that it needs and all I can afford right now) on my '85 Westfalia, so I took it for three estimates at the big chain muffler shops. I have the headers and all the gaskets and hardware. I wanted to gat estimates just for installation.The cheapest said $100 to $150 after looking at it, one said around $150 after only looking on their computer. The most expensive was $150 to $200. 

These estimates are enough to make me try doing it myself, but what am I up against? What is likely going to be the hardest part? Getting the old nuts and bolts off? Getting the studs out of the header? I don't want to mess anything up and then have to drive it so somplace to have someone else do it anyway. Sometimes I'm hesitant to do a job and then wish I had tried after paying the bill; sometimes it's not as bad as I had thought, like the power steering rack I did this spring- that was pretty straightforward.

I'm not sure how much I trust some of these muffler places, but I thought they might be cheaper for labor. Some of their labor rates are more than a full mechanic. 

Any advice if I try to do the two header pipes myself? 

Thanks,
Ed