Date:         Thu, 3 Dec 1998 13:23:10 -0500
Reply-To:     "Anthony L. Mourkas" <frankenstein@TELPLUS.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Anthony L. Mourkas" <frankenstein@TELPLUS.NET>
Subject:      Re: Funky-sounding Vanagon engines
Comments: To: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

For a while on the 81 aircooled Westy that I used to own I ran a custom
dual exhaust that a local shop fabricated for me.  It basically was just
some pipes that bolted to the heat exchangers and crossed over each other
behind the engine with some small glasspack "mufflers" attached.  It
didn't muffle much as the glass packing was never inserted so it
definitely sounded very much like a Harley!  VERY LOUD!

Very cool at times such as shaking up the minivan matrons when picking up
the kids at nursery school.  Not so cool when trying to make a discrete
early morning departure at the campground!  My wife and mechanic always
bitched about it so eventually I replaced it with a quiet muffler and
left behind my Walter Mitty street racing dreams........

Funny thing though, the van was now so quiet that my wife now complained
that she couldn't here me pull into the driveway anymore, she had gotten
used to hearing me announce my arrival a mile down the road!

The individual who purchased my van had no interest in the Harleyesque
sound so the exhaust is still sitting in the garage.  If anyone is
interested, let me know.....

Vroooom,

Tony

Anthony L. Mourkas
Hampden, Maine, USA
1984 Vanagon Westfalia
1990 Passat GL (for sale)
1991 Jetta Eco Diesel