Date:         Wed, 25 Nov 1998 22:03:30 -0500
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
Subject:      Re: Stainless Exhaust
Comments: To: vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

>I talked to the people at Stebro today. I'm convinced. I'm ordering. The
>entire unit which includes all brackets, muffler, (no cat) is 12 Ga, .095
>thick SS and is guarenteed for life! $775.00 US. Sure it's pricey, but if
you
>never have to replace it, I figure it's worth an extra $250.00 (think of
the
>labor cost, even if you do it yourself). The pipe which would replace the
cat
>is also available in SS.


For what it's worth, I am working on importing a similar (if not identical)
setup from Europe, supposedly for less money.  However, it is likely to be a
good 8-12 weeks away.  I will probably have pricing info within a couple of
weeks, though, so you'll know if the savings is worth waiting for.  $775 is
over $300 more than what I sell the stock system for, which is quite a price
difference.  Especially considering that one of the main causes of failure
of the Vanagon exhaust is not rust, but stress cracks, and I don't know
whether stainless will solve this problem or not.  (If the system doesn't
rust, but instead cracks as soon as the stock system would have, then it
will not have been worth the extra money.  Not that I think it will, but I
don't know if it will. Anyone know if stainless would be any more resistant
to this?)  I'd like to see the system come in at closer to $600 if possible,
which would make it a bit more palatable.  I don't know yet if this is
possible.  I'll keep you posted.

- Ron Salmon
 The Bus Depot
 http://www.busdepot.com