Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 22:09:16 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: 1.9 exhaust install
In-Reply-To: <BAY106-DAV32E11F8725327B6D68962DBBF0@phx.gbl>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
If you're going to pay anyone, you want an experienced mechanic, working
on these beasts, and knowing how to use real torches and drilling out
broken studs. The chain muffler place is not the right choice. Be
prepare to also replace the collector pipe. Trying to save this may cost
more in labor than the pipe is worth. Makes sure all the muffler and
j-pipe supports are there, correctly or else the new pipes will soon
crack. Try removing the pipes your self. You may get lucky. If you can
get sockets and wrenches to grab, do not force too hard. This is when
proper use of the torch will save the day. Once a stud or bolt is
broken, the next possibility is MIG welding a nut onto the stud and the
heating of that will usually get the offending stud to turn out. Last
resort is drilling and Heli-coils.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Ed
Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2005 4:05 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: 1.9 exhaust install
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
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