Where to get my new exhaust ?

[karl40]

Hello all, where's the best place to pick up a new complete exhaust for my A reg1.9 wbx D.F. I cant afford to go stainless being right on top of christmas and all, so a traditional steal one will have to do. Whats everyone's experences when attempting this job, thanks for your tips.

[California Dreamin]

Never a nice job on a wasserboxer but at least you have the earlier, much cheaper system.
I think you need to ring around the usual culprits...Euro Car Parts, GSF, Just Kampers.

Martin

[ghost123uk]

Brickwerks sell the best quality gear (I assume they do a non stainless system)

I got my "early" type system from Europarts (branches in most towns) quality was good (still OK after 6 years) and price was good. They also do a fitting kit with gaskets. Get a set of new nuts and studs too.

Problems = studs breaking off = can be a serious issue if it happens (research it on here with a search) use lots of heat on the nuts / studs via a blow torch, use "PlusGas" NOT WD40 as a releasing fluid.

[karl40]

Thanks everyone....i will keep you posted

[Ian Hulley]

Brickwerks were trialing/looking to trial a stainless early system a few months ago now.

Ian

[CovKid]

Or you can fit a hybrid to reduce costs (see custom exhausts in the WIKI). Not everyone likes it, but it transformed mine in terms of power, many have followed suit and is a cheaper way to go. The box outlasts the stock one too. You'll still need pipework from header to engine if yours is actually shot.

[Cruz]

Brickwerks were trialing/looking to trial a stainless early system a few months ago now.

Ian

I think the projected price was over £400 for the manifolds.

What about a vwspeedshop stainless system at £435? It fits an early van

http://www.vwspeedshop.com/product.php? ... t=0&page=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Crappy mild steel will set you back about £300 plus for an early system

[Gnarly Old Dog]

Interesting thread thank you.

I'm also in for a new exhaust for my late (1990) DG equipped bus. Would like to go stainless for obvious reasons but what's really stumping me is whether or not I can fit an early system completely instead of the late ones. I have no lambda sensor and disconnected the carb hot air pipework when that all went rotten and I see that VWHeritage suggest that you can fit the early systems to later buses so long as you replace the entire system. Trouble is when I phoned them, the guy on the phone didn't seem to know any more about it than I did.

So my question is - can it be done and what are the cons of doing it - any loss of performance or reduction in economy? Increased noise perhaps?

Many thanks
Andy

[dave lfc]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/T2-volkswagon ... _500wt_934" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; i made a best offer on this exhaust the other week for a £100 and got it nice exhaust note to,cheers dave

[fairwynds]

Interesting thread thank you.

I'm also in for a new exhaust for my late (1990) DG equipped bus. Would like to go stainless for obvious reasons but what's really stumping me is whether or not I can fit an early system completely instead of the late ones. I have no lambda sensor and disconnected the carb hot air pipework when that all went rotten and I see that VWHeritage suggest that you can fit the early systems to later buses so long as you replace the entire system. Trouble is when I phoned them, the guy on the phone didn't seem to know any more about it than I did.

So my question is - can it be done and what are the cons of doing it - any loss of performance or reduction in economy? Increased noise perhaps?

Many thanks
Andy

A couple of tips:
The DG engine codes have an 'early' and a 'late' type. The exhaust outlets on the cylinder heads are in the same place on both (iirc) so an full early system will fit a late engine and vice versa - BUT - the late system also has two exhaust 'hangar' brackets fixed to the lower rear of the engine mountings/cross member. These were an upgrade to the later system to help support the weight of what is quite a hefty exhaust sytem (the early DG system simply 'hangs' off the exhaust studs in the cylinder heads, which contributes to their premature failure at times).
So, with your late DG coded engine you should see the two exhaust hangar brackets if you peer up under the rear valance at the exhaust. If you want to fit an early system it may mean unbolting these first. I have an early DG engine and recently fitted the stainless steel full system from VW Speedshop and its been brilliant thus far.
IMPORTANT NOTE - many exhaust problems on these old buses seem to stem from the amount of excess engine vibration caused by worn out engine mountings (and sometimes combined with a rough running engine!). So, I would humbly advise anyone who is considering a full exhaust (or even part) change to
a) check and if necessary replace your engine mountings
b) tune your van!
c) Plus Gas your exhaust studs, folowed by more Plus Gas, and then some!
d) use heat to assist stud and nut removal, with HUGE amounts of patience!
e) prepare for the worst case of several studs snapping! (research local specialists you may have to call upon BEFORE you start the job!)
f) Replace all studs and use the proper brass exhaust nuts (iirc Brickwerks does the 11mm ones which give you just a tad more access with spanner on the two awkward ones)
g) Early DG - go stainless with VW Speedshop, or others (as above comment said, Brickwerks were tooling up for an early DG system, but there late system is reportly great, but early DG owners will have to source two exhaust hangars to upgrade their bus)
h) If you really mean business, then in future, change the exhaust studs every 3 years to avoid future problems (as someone on here does....now that IS dedication! - NOT me I hasten to add!)

...and finally.... Good luck!!