Club 80-90 Forums

I've got a T25 1984 petrol, earlier watercooled model with the older Aircooled 2l exhaust system.
With the whole exhaust system requiring replacement very soon.

I'm looking for some advise on my options with if possible approx cost & where to get them from :-
Original standard system,
Original standard system with Aftermarket silencer (mild steel),
Aftermarket Stainless Steel complete system,

Also will the newer 1985> model exhaust fit on the older <1984 earlier watercooled engines :- If so what if any are the advantages of doing this ???
(I'm not sure but I think i have heard that all the weight of the exhaust is on the engine studs on the early models .......is this true ????? & how does fitting an aftermarket exhaust effect this ??????

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Cheers
K

gasman wrote:I've got a T25 1984 petrol, earlier watercooled model with the older Aircooled 2l exhaust system.
With the whole exhaust system requiring replacement very soon.

I'm looking for some advise on my options with if possible approx cost & where to get them from :-
Original standard system,
Original standard system with Aftermarket silencer (mild steel),
Aftermarket Stainless Steel complete system,

Also will the newer 1985> model exhaust fit on the older <1984 earlier watercooled engines :- If so what if any are the advantages of doing this ???
(I'm not sure but I think i have heard that all the weight of the exhaust is on the engine studs on the early models .......is this true ????? & how does fitting an aftermarket exhaust effect this ??????

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Cheers
K

Hi Gasman ( what do you do for a living )

Welcome from RAINY Chester

You will find all you need to know on here ( and lots that you don't need to know as well )

Re Exhausts

The later one sounds a bit nicer, is said to give slightly better performance but is much dearer.
To fit it one would need the front support bracket and the 2 rear brackets along with the hardware that goes with them. All in all, imho, I would say it is not worth it, unless money is no object !

I fitted the older style standard system from http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/Car-Parts" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It cost me around £200 for the whole system incl the fitting kit and is of good quality (German) manufacture.

This company = http://www.bluebird-type2.co.uk/Bay%20T25%20exhaust.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; do some REALLY nice SS systems (at a price).

BEWARE of some of the after market systems such as the Empi ones which are absolute rubbish.
Also beware of inferior grade standard systems too !

It's all down to money.

The std Europarts MK1 one is good and cheap(ish)
The std later type exhaust is expensive and needs VW only bits to make it fit your engine.
The SS Bluebird ones are GREAT

Re weight on the studs.

The earlier type does hang off the studs, though many (most ?) of our vans (incl mine) do not have the extra support brackets shown in the Haynes and suffer no ill effects.

The Later system does not hang its weight on the studs.

One BIG BIG issue = have you been reading the recent threads on the actual process of changing exhaust systems ?
It can be fraught with BIG BIG disasters that in the worst cases can result in a new engine being required.
I do not wish to frighten you, but it is better to be informed before you start !!

Read this thread here => https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=54812" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and others before you embark on this job. iirc, there is info in our wiki (link at top of page) re what to do and what not to do.

And remember PlusGas not WD40 !!

Keep asking the Q's before you need to !!

And remember PlusGas not WD40 !!

Keep asking the Q's before you need to !!

good advice..

I tried and fitted a late exhaust on my van, I had no bracketing.. so I had to make my own.
it all lasted three years then the vibration destroyed a gasket and cracked a header pipe.

stick with the early system and buy quality.. not Empi crap as ghost suggests

gasman wrote:I've got a T25 1984 petrol, earlier watercooled model with the older Aircooled 2l exhaust system.
With the whole exhaust system requiring replacement very soon.

Remember that it is only the silencer box & tail pipe on your 1.9 WBX engine that is the same as the 2.0l CU air cooled engine. All the other pipework is completely different.

also worth noting, that the LA Performance/VW Speedshop stainless systems which look identical, are not 100% stainless, some of the bolt up flanges are stainless, some are mild steel, on the same system, which seems to defeat the object somewhat to me.