Date:         Fri, 5 Jan 2007 14:25:00 -0500
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: Holey muffler, Batman!
Comments: To: Sam Walters <sam.cooks@VERIZON.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <459EA072.90007@verizon.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

>
>It is just the removal of the old muffler with all of its almost solid
>rusted nuts and bolts that is the problem.  This is particularly true if
>someone doesn't have too many tools and / or hasn't ever tackled this
>project before.   Grinders and torches are often needed for the removal.

I dunno, Sam... removing my muffler was a snap:

         - Heat each nut with a propane torch.
         - Spray each nut liberally with liquid wrench (while it's still
hot from the torch).
         - Grab your 13mm wrenches, remember, it's "Lefty Loosey"... SNAP!!!

Fortunately (at least on my '85), the muffler is held to the cat with
through-bolts, so there's no little stub left threaded and rust-welded on
the bus... the only one I had to pray real hard about was the bolt holding
the end of the muffler strap. Luckily, the strap was rotted in two pieces,
so it was easy to get the muffler out of the way *before* going to work on
that bolt... makes a lot more room to work!

Tim


At 02:01 PM 1/5/2007 -0500, you wrote:
>Ken,
>
>Sure, new mufflers aren't that hard to install.  But don't make it sound
>easier than it is.
>
>It is just the removal of the old muffler with all of its almost solid
>rusted nuts and bolts that is the problem.  This is particularly true if
>someone doesn't have too many tools and / or hasn't ever tackled this
>project before.   Grinders and torches are often needed for the removal.
>
>Sam
>
>
>--
>Sam Walters
>
>Baltimore, MD