Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 01:26:44 -0600
Reply-To: James Cohen <jscohen@SPRYNET.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: James Cohen <jscohen@SPRYNET.COM>
Subject: Re: Walker Super Turbo Muffler
In-Reply-To: <002c01bd73c2$181ac860$202d85ce@vogmudet>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>Whew, I wish I was as sure of anything as you are about this.
I also know that the world is round, and nothing can go faster than light.
It's called "understanding the physics".
>
>So Walker, Borla, Edelbrock, Schnitzer, Ansa, Supersprint, Techtonics etc.
>etc. are all selling snake oil right?
To a large degree YES! Salesmanship, marketing, and uninformed consumers
make their profits! Just because the say it works don't mean it does.
Why don't you also buy some Slick 50 and some "fuel magnets" while you're
at it? Gee, they must work, the sell 'em don't they?
Are you seriously arguing that the companies that make the money are going
to make honest claims? Yep, sure, "as seen on TV".
>If a plugged cat reduces power, why
>won't a better flowing cat increase power?
I don't agree with your reasoning here.
A plugged cat is a malfunction and restricts the flow to below stock. This
is not the same as a bigger cat. A bigger cat/muff will not increase flow
since the exhaust manifold is still a small diameter and will restrict any
gains.
I mean why would it? If this made sense, then you wouldn't need a new
cat/muff since the once the gases passed the tail pipe it would be "less
restricted". If you want more flow, you need to open up all the
restrictions.
>
>Small diameter primaries are what maintains torque. You want tight bends?
Exactly my point, how would a larger cat/muff change anything?
>
>In addition to our Vanagon I have also placed a 2.25" stainless **cat
>back**exhaust on my 2.0 liter 16V Jetta. As a result it is a rocket!!
>Techtonics has the dyno sheets to prove that this exhaust does increase
>power. The auto aftermarket is full of BS and false claims. But... free
>flow exhausts even without a 32" primary, equal length, rotational
>collector header, can work. Period.
Sure it will work on a Jetta. Look at the exahust manifold, and the size
of the pipes,and the way it's collected. AND the distance it has to flow.
This is apples and oranges. The golf engines use a straighter and larger
pipe.
Besides MOST OF THE LARGER EXHAUSTS ONLY ADD A FEW HP AT ONLY THE HIGHEST
RPMS. Yes that's right, even TT. IF YOU DON'T BELEIVE ME ASK THEM!
The Vanagon tops out at 4400 rpm, the 16V 2.0 goes to like 7000. There is
less gas to flow and less distance to travel.
Besides, your Jetta "rocket" is only about 5 hp more than stock! And if you
notice, the TT catalog pitches the big power increase with the addition of
their very expensive headers and manifolds. And even then it's claimed at
only 8%, and once again, only at the very top end. Have them send you the
HP graphs.
BTW, a friend of mine researched the TT exhaust system. They use very
restrictive protrusion baffles in the resonators effectively reducing the
size of the pipes. VW uses a different style. The end result is that a
stock VR6 Corrado exhaust will make more power than an aftermarket TT!
>
>Oh? I just looked. My oem muffler is not straight through. It is loaded
>with baffles and "U" turns.
NOt mine. Baffles but no bends.
>>
>>As for the Jacobs ignition system, this won't add HP either. Unless the
>>engine's ignition system is malfunctioning, this unit won't add any extra
>>performance either
>
>So you're saying that any spark will do, voltage ** Plug Gap** and duration
>have no effect. Say what??? With the variables that we all see from our
>digifant FI, which is often providing a marginal mixture, you think that a
>bigger, hotter spark wouldn't fire some of those marginal charges that might
>otherwise misfire? Think about it.
You are way off here. A properly functioning ignition system will work
just as well. Only boy racers with $$$ to spend waste money on this stuff.
Bigger and hotter has been BS forever. Optimal is not the same as bigger
and hotter.
>
>Our Vanagon is quicker. My butt does not lie.
Your butt is deluded.
"Seat of your pants" is not a dependable way to judge performance. Dyno,
test track, or G-Tech is the only way to judge. And then only when
compared to a properly functioning engine.
I hope you don't take any of this personally, I find debating this subject
quite educational. If YOU'RE happy with your van good. But their are some
on this list who may not think critically on this issue.
James
James Cohen
New York City, Williamstown, Ma
and Aspen, CO (winters)
85 Westy
81 Westy (for sale)
71 Westy
83 Vanagon (9 Passanger)
74 Bus (9 passanger)
67 Bus (Deluxe)
66 Bus
RED! '93 Corrado
RED! '87 GTI G60!!!
