Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 21:37:38 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 89 Bluestar muffler question
In-Reply-To: <B5857E8E-5243-4BBD-8721-69E437365448@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Looking at the muffler from the right side of the van, the tailpipe outlet
should be about 7 to 8 o'clock. The tail pipe and cat side flanges are
different sizes. The tail pipe flange should be threaded will the cat side
uses nuts and bolts. The muffler may have loose or bad baffles inside which
can create quite a racket.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Steve Cotsford
Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 10:14 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: 89 Bluestar muffler question
Well I have removed my muffler and heat shield. Definitely not an easy
job. I modified the syncro heat shield by shortening it and replaced it in
the normal 2wd position and I am fairly happy with the results. I ground
through the rivets and cut the lower piece shorter and then re attached it
with number 10 nuts and bolts. Its much neater and now the bolts for the
muffler brackets are much easier to reach and the tabs are flush with bottom
of the moustache tube.
I'm investigating the rattling noise coming from the muffler hitting the
heat shield I think but I also found a tailpipe attachment bolt interfering
with a tubular part of the van body.
This muffler I bought used and it seems in reasonable condition. It was
already attached to the brackets so I mounted it the same way.
It says "made in Israel" on it. There are two ways to install it I think
but probably only one is correct. The tail pipe attachment point is
excentricly located on the muffler end and can be up high or low down,
depending on where the horizontal seam is. This can be in clearance
spaces near the engine or clearance spaces where the strap bolts attach.
Mine had the seam where the attachment bolts attach and this made the
tailpipe attach to the upper part of the muffler end. Here, one bolt
seems to be interfering with a tube of the van frame.
I am thinking it might work better if I rotate the muffler body by 180
degrees and have the tail pipe exiting lower down and the bolt will be
further away from the frame tube member.
Can someone tell me which is the correct position? Thanks, Steve