Date:         Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:15:54 -0700
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Merffler options?
Comments: To: Mike <mbucchino@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

late reply,
I'm pretty sure a syncro  front exhaust pipe will fit right onto a 2WD Vanagon. It is just shaped like it is to clear syncro skid bars, which aren't on a 2WD , so shouldn't be a problem.

I can't say I hate exhaust work.  Just one of those challenges we need to deal with for vanagons. I will say how poorly the pipes fit is a real bother sometimes. 
And a lifetime warranty on a muffler is sure attractive.  
I don't know about currently, but I have talked to Midas before and they said they would replace brake pads  basically forever if you got their full-on full warranted brake job. 

So if they owe you a new muffler forever, and will put it on, and as long as they do good work, hard to loose there. 


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mike 
  To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans ; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 6:02 PM
  Subject: Re: Re: Merffler options?


  I have a Snap-On heater box 13/14mm S-wrench; it's my favorite tool!

  I haven't tried the candlewax trick yet, but I will soon.

  I hate exhaust work; IMHO, it IS best left to Midas or somesuch place. The lifetime warrantee on the muffler alone is a very attractive feature.

  I do have an oxy-acetylene torch, and that's the only way to go, if you have to remove/ repair/ re-install rusty exhaust components, amongst other things.  

  BTW, can I install a 2.1 syncro 1-3 front pipe on my non-syncro 2.1?

  Mike B.
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans 
    To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
    Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:06 PM
    Subject: Re: Merffler options?


    They are not all that difficult to change.
    I usually lower the rear of the engine some though, that really helps with
    access, but it's not absolutely necessary.
    All you have to undo is the 3 bolts to the cat, and the support bracket on
    the right side of the engine.

    what I commonly find is the nuts and bolts are really rusted, and half the
    time I heat the nuts with a torch to be able to get them off.
    If the engine isn't lowered, then you might need a 'heater box wrench' which
    is a 13 mm hex box wrench, built in a curve, so it can reach around corners.

    And rare is the intact and complete support bracket ( support bracket system
    I could say ).  Most I see are broken, missing pieces, or have been hack
    welded to get them to work a little bit more. It's about 5 parts all
    together. I have most of those parts.

    parts wise , you need the muffler, gaskets at both ends, and tail pipe.

    I often undo the cat and muffler with tail pipe as one piece..........so I
    can see the upstream end of the cat material inside it.
    With that part off the car, the bolts between cat and muffler are easier to
    deal with.
    I don't know how I'd work on this stuff without a torch really, most of it
    is so rusted and stuck.

    here's trick to remember if flame heat is available........get the bolt or
    nut pretty hot, and melt candle wax into the threads.  It'll get sucked
    right into the threads, and sometimes that makes them  be able to unscrew
    like they should.

    here's a great upgrade to a 1.9 waterboxer. Put on a rear engine mount
    aluminum casting part, from a 2.1 waterboxer engine.
    That system uses a great 'cradle' arrangement to hold the muffler.  You just
    use the right side of the double cradle system to support your 1.9 wbxr
    muffler.   There's some welding and minor modification I think, but this
    would make a 10 times better muffler support than is stock on 83 to 85
    Vanagons.
      I don't think I have any extra of those brackets right now though .....
    but it's a vastly superior way to support the muffler, compared to what the
    1.9 has.   If I find I have an extra one, I might build up 'the perfect' 1.9
    muffler support thing using 2.1 parts, and offer it for sale.

       or you could put on an entire 2.1 exhaust system too, but that would be
    expensive and make a lot bigger project out of it.
    The ones I get are decent European made, good quality aftermarket mufflers.
    if you want a price quote, let me know.
    And see if your right side muffler support bracket system looks ok. Many are
    broken or hack welded .
    Scott
    www.turbovans.com

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "Rocket J Squirrel" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
    To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
    Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 4:22 PM
    Subject: Merffler options?


    > I've not actually been under there to look, what with the broken ankle and
    > all*, but my son reports that the old merffler on my 1.9l 84 auto
    > transmission is starting to get a certain "lacy" look to it. I think that
    > I can shortly expect more exhaust to come out of places that it isn't
    > supposed to come out of than that where it is meant to come out.
    >
    > Is replacing the thing an E-Z thing.? I hope it does not usually involve
    > advanced welding skills, giant pit in the floor to stand it, a background
    > in metallurgica, and a pipe-bending engine.
    >
    > For replacement merfflers, are there lots of choices?
    >
    > =================
    >
    > * Physical therapist is a devotee of the marquis de Sade
    >
    > --
    > Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
    > 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
    > 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
    > Bend, OR
    > KG6RCR