Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:12:00 -0500
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 Exhaust system, how bad????
In-Reply-To: <BAY141-DAV90909054E4D7B04B03823DF190@phx.gbl>
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I sell many, many of these every year and I have installed more than
twenty of them myself on my vans and customers vans. Do they fit as
nice as the OE pipes? Usually. I have had about three complaints over
the years on them not fitting (over the course of 10 years now). I got
one back a couple of years ago that I had to do a minor tweak to one of
the pipes to get it to fit but that was the worst of it. If you install
the OE pipes on a 1.9l there is one flange that never lines up just
right either (on number one cylinder). As far as rusting goes I
installed a set of OE pipes on a customers 2.1l Vanagon last winter. He
drove it all summer and part of a winter and I got the van back. He is
from New York. The OE pipes are in rough shape after less than 12
months but 18k miles. However this van was abused by the customer as it
had many brand new parts and most of them look like they are five to six
years old but I only installed them less than a year ago.
So the OE pipes do rust, so does S&S. You may have a better fitment
with the OE pipes, maybe not. The quality of the S&S system is about
80% of the OE pipes (IMHO). The price is less than half for the 2.1l,
and almost a quarter of the syncro version. The S&S system not only
replaces the stock pipes and muffler but also eliminates the need for
the stock muffler carrier and straps. That is how I get the savings
figures I am talking about. I sell the S&S system for $335 plus
shipping. If you are a good enough mechanic to replace your exhaust
pipes then you are good enough to install this system. If you should
have left the installation to a mechanic then either OE or S&S you will
have problems (not the systems fault). The S&S muffler has a deeper
note which some people don't like. I drove my van back and forth to
Georgia several times with the system on there and it never annoyed me.
This is just my opinion and I guess I am biased as a person that sells
these systems. However I am also a mechanic that installs them and I
hate having vans come back. If I didn't think that the system was good
quality I would not install it. I would insist on the OE system since
that would make less headaches for me. However I have no headaches from
installing the S&S system versus the OE so I keep installing them for
folks. They save a little bit of money over the OE system and keep
their van on the road for another few years.
I guess that is all I have to say about that. You have to make up your
own mind, I just wanted to add my 2 cents.
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
Ryan Shawley wrote:
> The inspector man told me to think about a new exhaust for this upcoming inspection. I currently have what I think is the S&S system, it surely isn't stock. Searching the archives shows that some people have one hell of a time installing the S&S. Is this still an issue? I haven't seen many recent posts that discuss this at length. I'm also thinking of sourcing some used components as I need everything but the CAT. Anyone have any good used stuff for the 2.1 in western PA. Obviously the cost and conditon would dictate which route I go. I guess the truth is I don't have the $400+ to replace the OE system. My wife is still suspicous of my big white money pit in the driveway.
>
> Ryan
>
> *actually it hasn't been a money pit, just some nickels and dimes so far, I paid to much up front though
>
>
>