Date:         Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:51:28 -0800
Reply-To:     Evan Mac Donald <evanm@ATT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Evan Mac Donald <evanm@ATT.NET>
Subject:      Exhaust Design Contemplations...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Ok everybody - its time we tried to replace the tire thread with a new one - 

I own an '85 with a 1.9 WBX. I put stock exhaust systems on 3 times in 10 years, 
then put on an S & S header. It also lasted about three years, but with less 
driving. ( Michigan winters, see.) The first, and main point of failure on the 
1.9 system was the wretched two-into-one join at the collector. Each of the 
three systems that I have had fail went there first. By a noticeable stretch. 
These were not cheepie repro, but real Dansk items.

When I look at the design of the 2.1 system, I see that this weak spot has been 
replaced with a very different design, using a casting in that particular weak 
spot. (As an aside, I also noticed the design of the 2.1 1 - 3 and 2 - 4 headers 
flanges at the collector end was also changed, to keep you from any partial 
updates to your exhaust. Grrrrr....)

And I am also ignoring cat converters and mufflers. I put my own mufflers on, 
thank you very much, and they aren't VW standard.

My simplistic question, attempting to ignore as many extraneous variables as 
possible is:

Which exhaust design is better? 1.9 Or 2.1? Pros and cons are what I mean.  The 
stainless issue is also not to be considered here, before you even mention it.

Better breathing?

Longer lasting?

Stronger?
 Evan Mac Donald 


"...in the absence of facts, myth rushes in, the kudzu of history."
-Stacy Schiff