Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 18:08:28 -0400
Reply-To: Tim Demarest <tim.demarest@POBOX.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tim Demarest <tim.demarest@POBOX.COM>
Subject: Re: Fw: Exhaust gaskets... sealer?
In-Reply-To: <027e01c6582f$b801a2e0$6401a8c0@mike>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
Very nice gaskets! Too bad I already spent *last* Sunday getting rid of my
exhaust leaks. :-)
I used the OEM gaskets that Bus Depot sent me with the complete exhaust kit
(no sealer) and the ol' bus runs so quietly now, I can hear all the other
squeaks and groans again! The old gaskets were badly rusted away, if I have
to do it again, I'm going to give copper a shot.
The big leak turned out to be where the two headers come together at the
collector; (that pipe with the O2 sensor in it on 1.9 engines like mine).
One of the gaskets was blown out (toward the inside, between the two
incoming header pipes). Fortunately, this joint had been taken apart in the
past and reassembled with stainless hardware, so it wasn't too difficult to
get it apart again. Looking at the fit of the pipes, I can see why Ken
Wilford said he uses some Walker sealer there (if it doesn't hold, I'll try
that next time, Ken).
I had a rusted through muffler strap, and a hole in top of the muffler, so
those got replaced as well, as did the collector and O2 sensor. The
collector pipe was solid, but the bracket for the mounting bars had rusted
clean off, so the new pipe went on. Since I had a new O2 sensor 'in stock',
I decided not to try and wrestle the old one out (I'll give it a shot at my
leisure, and keep the old one as a spare if I can get it out).
So, I guess the job went about as well as expected, everything is new
except the cat, tailpipe and the two headers, and the hardware is now
stainless everywhere except at the heads. I'm just as glad I could leave
the headers in place, because I did *not* want to deal with the rusty studs
at the heads this close to camping season.
The only thing I wasn't happy with was the replacement muffler strap... Ron
doesn't include one in his kit because OEM straps are NLA. I got an
aftermarket strap from California Import Parts... and it didn't even begin
to hold onto the muffler until I bent the heck out of it. As far as I can
tell, the strap is just too long, and compared to (what little is left of)
the old strap, it looks flimsier than the OEM part; but it is definitely
better than nothing.
Now I'm all ready for that long drive down to EveryBus!
Tim
At 05:35 PM 4/4/2006 -0400, Mike Bucchino wrote:
>These are the gaskets I'm referring to;
>
>http://www.bugcity.com/cgi-bin/WebStore/indexNEW.cgi/mi=yes/srchcd=2512
>
>Or these Gene Berg ones look good too;
>
>http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=200664
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Mike Bucchino" <mbucchino@charter.net>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 5:08 PM
>Subject: Fw: Exhaust gaskets... sealer?
>
>
>> Has anyone tried using the thick solid copper racing exhaust gaskets?
>>They can be installed/ replaced with out removing the exhaust header from
>>the studs due to slotted bolt holes. I believe that they're also
>>available
>>in larger diameter port openings, which would work out well with the
>>Vanagon
>>ports.
>> Als, what about Copper-Coat? I've heard of this copper-based sealant
>>that's used by heavy equipment mechanics for gasketless exhaust joints.
>>Just wondered if anyone has experience with using either of these on
>>Vanagons or anything else for that matter.......
>>
>>Mike B.
>>
>>
>>>>OK, quick question... one I don't recall seeing addressed here. What
>>>>sealer (if any) should be used on the various exhaust gaskets for a 1.9
>>>>engine?
>>>>
>>>>Tim
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