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Date:         Mon, 12 May 2008 21:04:31 -0700
Reply-To:     Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Recommended Exhaust System for '88 Vangon
Comments: To: John Rodgers <inua@charter.net>
In-Reply-To:  <482910BA.2070006@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I really like the OEM exhaust pipes. Lasts over 200,000 miles out here and is quiet too.

For mufflers I'm using the Ernst brand. Very quiet and strong - last over twice as long as the cheaper ones so far and still solid. I don't drive in salt much.

If you don't have any mechanical experience, especially with using a torch to help remove stuck steel studs from aluminium alloy heads, have an experienced Vanagon mechanic do that part of the work - you'll save money in the long run. :)

On Mon, May 12, 2008 at 8:53 PM, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote:

> Hello Todd, > > Welcome aboard! > > Regards your exhaust system - I like the stock OEM exhaust system. At > least the exhaust collector parts - headers in the auto world, > collectors in the aviations world - and there are some aircraft > mechanics on this list - seem to hold up well. I put 205,000 miles on my > 85GL and had a single fault - a cracked collector - at 195,000 mi. I now > have 100,000 on my current 88 GL and no problems.However, I think > perhaps a stainless steel muffler might be nice. I've been through a > couple of mufflers on each vehicle. > > A few tips......if you don't know already...... > > 1) The oil filler neck has an extension tube down inside, you can grasp > it with your thumb and fore finger and pull it out for easier oil > servicing. Jut push it back in when done, and replace the cap. > > 2) unless you know the absolute history of the van first hand - > ABSOLUTELY DO NOT DRIVE your van any more until you have replaced all > the fuel lines and fuel injector stub hoses with new ones. This is a > first class priority for safety. > > These Vanagons are notorious for fuel system related engine fires, and > it you have one you will lose your vehicle - that is a guarantee. They > nearly always are caused by a fuels home that fails, spraying fuel all > over the engine, and when one relay switch clicks back there and makes > a spark or there is a spark anywhere back there, your van is GOOOONE! > > You did not say what model year your van is, but consider this - the > newest vans sold in the US were the 1991 models - and they are now 18 > years (model years begin near the end of the year preceeding the > calendar year - making the1991 models 18 years of age) You do not want > to risk driving around on 18 year old fuel injection hoses which are > high pressure hoses, capable of putting out a LOT of fuel if the hose > splits. > > I'm serious. Don't drive it again until you take care of the fuel hoses > issue. > > You can get hose replacement kits from Ken Wilford at Vanagain. com or > from Ron Salmon at BusDepot.com I know - because I have dealt with both > of them. Ron is a little cheaper, Ken is a little faster - pick what > works for you. It will cost you around $60 or so, but that is cheap > insurance. BE sure and ask for the injector hoses, seals and clamps as > well. There are other list vendors that carry these things as well. > > Get this done without delay. Just about a week or so ago, we had a long > thread here on someone's Vanagon that burned. Sad case. > > Finally, while you have the van down for this maintenance, get a helper > and drain, flush, refill the brake fluid system. You will be amazed at > how much water and dirt will come out of the system. > > Since the clutch and the brake reservoir is the same, it would be a good > idea to drain and bleed the clutch cylinders as well. This is a bit more > of an effort, but one well worth doing. For the brake/clutch reservoir, > use only DOT 4, which has a higher heat rating than the DOT 3. > > Check out http://vanagonwiki.net/index.php/VanagonWiki > > There is a page in there that is dedicated to Newbies that will help out > immensely. > > Hope this helps. > > Regards, > > John Rodgers > 88 GL Driver > > > > > > > > Todd N. Sabin wrote: > > > I just acquired my first Vanagon. My girlfriend and I were planning a > > trip around the country and started investigating appropriate > > transportation. We considered every option - truck, conversion van, > > mini-van (yuck), renting an RV.....etc. But, none of them felt right. > > > > My buddy in college had one and we had some really good times and > > adventures in it. I never considered it for myself, though. After much > > research, I fell in love with the idea. Although my girlfriend and I may be > > breaking-up, I still had to have the Vanagon. So, hear I am. > > > > This is my first project car, and I'm not terribly mechanically. But, > > I'm not too much of an idiot, and after seeing all of the support from the > > Vanagon community I'm excited about my new hobby. > > > > Well, my 1988 Vanagon needs a bit of work. The major, single investment > > will be in completely replacing the exhaust. I'm torn between price and > > performance. Any recommendations and advice on purchasing S&S Headers (or > > other aftermarket) verse an more expensive OEM exhaust? > > > > Thanks for your time and hope to contribute to the list serve when I > > gain some insight on how these things work. > > > > Todd > > > > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > > Be a better friend, newshound, and > > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > > > > > >

-- Jake 1984 Vanagon GL 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie" Crescent Beach, BC www.crescentbeachguitar.com http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27


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