Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 22:06:19 -0500
Reply-To: Joseph J Liasse <jliasse@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Joseph J Liasse <jliasse@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Subject: Re: Muffler brackets and things, 87 Syncro manual
I had exactly the same situation. The dealer wanted $50 for the strap.
Deciding I would rather crazy glue the thing before I paid that I made my
own.
You can pick up some thin strap iron at a Home Depot (or one of the other
large hardware chains) of about the same width as your old strap. While
there pick up a stove bolt of about the same diameter as the pin in the old
strap (stove bolt is one with threads on only about half the shaft) Also
pick up an extra long bolt of the same size as the one that screws into the
"strap holder" (wrong name but you know what I mean).
When you get home first make a fold in the iron about 3 inches or so
from the end. When you get a good start in the fold lay the stove bolt in
the fold and hammer the 3 inches of slack flat against the rest of the
stock. You now have the piviot of the strap.
For the other end measure the length of the origional strap; or if you
cannot do that measure the needed length with the muffler in place. Add an
extra inch or so to allow for the bend you are going to put in the strap for
the bolt hole and cut off the excess. If you are going to make an error make
sure you make it on the short side as a slightly too short strap can be made
up for with the extra long bolt you bought when you picked up the other
stuff.
Hammer the extra inch or so to about a 90 degree angle to the stock and
drill a hole in it to recieve the extra long bolt.
All that done hammer the stock into a curve approximating the curve of
the muffler cylinder.
You now have a perfectly servicable strap that you have paid all of
about $4 and a half hour or so of time. If you mess up on your first try
don't sweat it as the strap iron you bought will still be plenty long enough
for you to have one or two more tries.
-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Bey <DanielisOk@AOL.COM>
To: vanagon@VANAGON.COM <vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Monday, October 19, 1998 8:21 AM
Subject: Muffler brackets and things, 87 Syncro manual
>Hi all!
>When I purchased my 87 Syncro Westy, the last owner had a new muffler
system
>installed by one off these big muffler do anything franchise shops.
>The pair of cradles that holds the muffler with the metal straps was so
rusted
>and in disrepair, that they spot welded the muffler to what was left to it.
>Not good for me when I have to repair the system again one day. The dealers
>want blood for a replacement set of muffler cradles. I offered my ex-wife,
but
>a no go! Does anyone have used ones laying around, maybe being used for
>hanging plants that they can part with??? -On that note, I also need some
>little white (Whatchamacallit) curtain things that slide in the channels,
also
>that black wire that holds the curtain down near the rear pass-side. One
>exterior fresh water lid thing? (the lid cover is missing). Thanks
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