Date:         Sun, 15 Mar 2015 10:42:34 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Muffler - Carat - 2.1 L WBX
Comments: To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CA+r=Jhq_wvSxoGrFnxm-=P7kcJw11L83m=7rEUr9KYB_kdt1gw@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

The true original straps held up fairly well. They were plated and resisted rust for some time and the welded ends provided some strength. For a while I was using 1/8" X 1 steel bent at one end with a pin welded on the other. That worked well even when they looked awful. Stainless needs to have the angled end welded on. Just bending them they tend to crack. 

Go Westy does sell their style of brackets and straps to fit the original diameter mufflers.  

Dennis


-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Larry Alofs
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2015 10:21 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Muffler - Carat - 2.1 L WBX

John,
  I haven't seen the picture in the ETKA and I don't know what terminalogy it uses, but if "retainer" means the mounting bracket with the curved arm that fits the muffler, the arm should be on the bottom to support the weight of the muffler.  The straps just hold the muffler in place.
  If you haven't already bought them, you should consider fabricating your own straps out of stainless steel, often available in plumbing departments.  Those OEM straps are crazy thin, considering the conditions they are exposed to.

Larry A.




On Sun, Mar 15, 2015 at 12:24 AM, John Rodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com>
wrote:

> I'm changing the muffler on my '91 CARAT and see the retainer and the 
> tensioning straps are in reverse or upside down from what is shown in 
> the ETKA. On the CARAT, the retaining strap is on the BOTTOM and the 
> retainer on top.  If they WERE like ETKA, seems the muffler would be a 

> WHOLE LOT easier to remove and replace.
>
> Did at some point the PO get it wrong on the last muffler change, or 
> was it installed backwards at the factory?
>
> What's the deal?
>
> John
>