Date:         Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:13:34 +0000
Reply-To:     J Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         J Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Inspection time again - exhaust system blues
Comments: To: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <1311262087.34165.YahooMailClassic@web110611.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Stephen,
Sorry to hear about the motorcycle accident-is the Virago OK? When I bought my '85 last year the front pipes were completely rusted through, and as luck would have it two of the four studs snapped off in the head when I tried to remove them (despite days of being soaked with PB Blaster) . Luckily there is enough room to get a drill up there and drill them out. Rear pipes are not so easy. I was lucky enough to find a complete used exhaust system already removed and sitting inside a Vanagon in a junk yard. I got it for $125.00 after listening to the junk yard owner go on and on about how a new exhaust system from the dealer costs $4,000.00. If you can wait a few more months, your '87 will be antique ( joke: My aunt died yesterday at 104 years of age. We called her Aunt Tique) in Virginia and you can get antique plates and skip the state safety inspection and emissions testing. Good luck! Jeff




Jeff Stewart


----- Original Message -----


August is inspection month for the '87 Westy and I just fired it up after several weeks of inactivity (motorcycle accident had me driving an automatic for a month or so) to hear an exhaust leak, and not just a hole-in-the-muffler sound, but something more profound, expensive and troublesome. Could not pinpoint it yet but it sounds like it's coming from the driver's side front. Everything under there is rusted and nasty-looking so I guess I'll be getting a full system, everything upstream of the cat, rather than try to disassemble it and replace only the bad part. Looks like I'll finally get to experience the joys of head studs and fine German rust.

Of course, I'm also in the process of re-roofing my house right now so the Westy work takes a back seat timewise until the roof is done. We're hoping to take a (cheap) little camping vacation to the southern Appalachians when finished with the roof but that might not be as soon as we planned.

Warnings, helpful hints and dire predictions will be gratefully accepted. I'm breaking out the PB Blaster as I write this for the first of many ceremonial pre-soaks.

Stephen