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Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:32 pm

Will a standard bug muffler fit a Thing. I know they bolt up to the motor ok but will the tail pipes go under the body to the rear ?

Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:30 pm

Yeppers.

Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:41 pm

That's what I have on mine right now. If I had more spare time and a welder, I would have modified it into a 1974-style muffler.

Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:07 am

It's hideous.

Sun Aug 19, 2007 5:14 am

Every pictures tells a story. Thanks for the replies. Looks ugly but it works. Especially when the correct replacement thing muffler is so expensive

Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:36 am

Not only does it fit -- by the late 70s/early 80s, dealers were replacing Thing mufflers with bug mufflers. Personally, I don't think they look right at all. If you're on a budget and can't afford one of the Thing-specific mufflers on ebay (which are way cheaper than Thing Shop, but still in the $200 range), I'd suggest getting a cheap Monza muffler and modifying it like Emerson Biggins did:

I currently have an unmodified Monza muffler and a CIP1 '74 muffler in the box for when the 10-yr-old Monza wears out -- but the Monza has worked better and lasted longer than the S&S merged header system. If I could do it over now, I'd probably just buy a new Monza instead and do the mod, rather than ordering the '74 system from CIP1.

Either way, I'd do a search. There are several good threads on exhaust options, and I'm sure you'll find a better option than a stock Bug muffler.[/url]

Mon Aug 20, 2007 6:07 am

honky wrote: Every pictures tells a story. Thanks for the replies. Looks ugly but it works. Especially when the correct replacement thing muffler is so expensive I see this statement come up all the time when it comes to stock exhaust setups. I always ask folks to judge the price by it's length of life. How long did that original stock exhaust last? In most cases, it was good for 10 to 15 years (even more). I have a 71 Thing (military) and an 84 Vanagon Westy. Both have a stock exhaust. I recently replaced the Vanagon exhaust with a new stock system. Yes, it cost a whole bunch more than other systems out there, but it fit, and I know this one will give me another 20 plus years of service, provided the Vanagon or myself last that long.

You get what you pay for. Pay more for the stock exhaust, but it will fit, and last for another 10 to 20 years. Buy an aftermarket system, and you'll get maybe 5 years. Some you even have to remove their paint and redo it to keep it from burning off or rusting the first time you start the engine with it.

Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:55 am

bucko wrote: Some you even have to remove their paint and redo it to keep it from burning off or rusting the first time you start the engine with it.

Agreed -- That's what happened with my S&S. It lasted about 5 years. Still, I'm not sure if Honky has a '73 or '74, but if the choice is between dropping $1000 or so for a true NOS Thing exhaust (if you can find one)or rocking a bug exhaust with pea shooters, I'd choose neither one, and drop $300 for a nice, ceramic coated aftermarket exhaust that should sound good and last a long time.

Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:35 pm

go for the dual muffler/header system and do not look back..

Fri Aug 24, 2007 9:21 am

Hey Emerson when you cut off the 4 tips on your monza muffler...did you have the tips custom fabricated... or ... is that a 45 and 90 from Pep Boys or the like? I'm going to do the same, but didn't know if I needed to take it to a muffler shop after I cut or if I could just pick up the necessary preshaped pieces and do it myself... :?:

Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:39 pm

iam running a single glasspack extractor on my 73 thing from cip1

Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:57 pm

Personally I think one of the coolest, most unique things about a Thing is the exhaust thru the bumper. What other vehicle of any type can match that? I think it is a must and I would never go without one. I have had the Thing shop divided exhaust on mine for 4 years, 5,000 miles. If I had to replace it tomorrow it would be something thru the bumper.

Now I suppose if I just had some rat mobile or had a baja'ed up Thing with a different bumper I would consider otherwise. But for a decent stock or modified stock it would only be thru bumper for me.

Just my $.02 worth.

Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:12 pm

I keep my vehicles stock. My Mercedes, my BMW motorcycles and my VWs.

Very, very rarely is it a good idea to do otherwise. Compromise one system, it effects something else.

Oh, seats are often a change, but I keep the originals (if possible).

When you start using something other than stock, you drop the value, often get less performance, and sometime create other problems.

But hey, it's your Thing. Do what you want to do.

Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:38 pm

bmwloco wrote: When you start using something other than stock, you drop the value, often get less performance, and sometime create other problems.

Strongly disagree, unless you add the modifier "without thinking it through". So, "Without thinking it through, if you start using something other than stock..." - that's a bold statement that I can agree with.

Or do you think the 2270 Type 4 engine I've put in my Thing will give me less performance than the stock 1600? Care to wager? ;)

I paid $1000 for my Thing. Do you think the combination of all the upgrades I've done - high performance engine, transmission and supports to match the engine, radically improved exhaust, aftermarket upholstery, very well done tiger-striped paint, centerline wheels, disk brakes, roll bar - all this has reduced the price of my car below $1000?

I suppose I can't argue that it has caused other problems. I do have to engage my brain when finding a car part and I anticipate that it will be more difficult to avoid speeding tickets in the future. :lol:

Thu Sep 13, 2007 8:21 pm

lowsquare wrote: Hey Emerson when you cut off the 4 tips on your monza muffler...did you have the tips custom fabricated... or ... is that a 45 and 90 from Pep Boys or the like? I'm going to do the same, but didn't know if I needed to take it to a muffler shop after I cut or if I could just pick up the necessary preshaped pieces and do it myself... :?:
Just a 45 and a 90 from the auto parts store but I had to cut and flare a little bit.

Fri Sep 14, 2007 4:35 am

honky wrote: Every pictures tells a story. Thanks for the replies. Looks ugly but it works. Especially when the correct replacement thing muffler is so expensive

Yep, the correct muffler is expensive, but one has to figure how long the original muffler lasted. 30 years yes?

You have an original VW in the Thing. Why would you want to but a Beetle muffler on it and ruin its originality? In the case of Ian Epperson, he went the modified route, but he does not have a stock Beetle muffler on his Thing. So originality and value was not ruined in his case. Placing a stock Beetle exhaust will take away from your Thing's "originality" factor, and since you did not indicate that you are going the "modified" or "performance" route, you are getting the suggestions of leaving it stock. Besides, a stock Beetle exhaust does nothing for perfomance.

Save up, and buy a correct fitting muffler. There are other types that exit through the bumpers of the Thing that I'd go for rather than put a Beetle muffler on it.

Fri Sep 14, 2007 7:07 am

Ian,

Sorry to offend. It wasn't my intent. Do what you want with your Thing.

For me, though, Stock rules. I've been going to Hershey since I was a kid. Sure, there's a place for hot rods, hacks, mods, and other stuff, but when you want top dollar for your vehicle, stock and OEM is the way to go.

Again, if it makes you happy, do what blows up your skirt. It's a free country (allegedly).

Sat Sep 15, 2007 3:12 am

I used a stock beetle muffler. Blocked off the original outlets and added my own.

The key to modifying exhaust without affecting performance is to keep back pressure below 2psi at 2000 rpm. Easy to measure using a low pressure dial type gauge.

Sat Sep 15, 2007 7:23 am

Ian Epperson wrote: bmwloco wrote: When you start using something other than stock, you drop the value, often get less performance, and sometime create other problems.

Strongly disagree, unless you add the modifier "without thinking it through". So, "Without thinking it through, if you start using something other than stock..." - that's a bold statement that I can agree with.

Or do you think the 2270 Type 4 engine I've put in my Thing will give me less performance than the stock 1600? Care to wager? ;)

I paid $1000 for my Thing. Do you think the combination of all the upgrades I've done - high performance engine, transmission and supports to match the engine, radically improved exhaust, aftermarket upholstery, very well done tiger-striped paint, centerline wheels, disk brakes, roll bar - all this has reduced the price of my car below $1000?

I suppose I can't argue that it has caused other problems. I do have to engage my brain when finding a car part and I anticipate that it will be more difficult to avoid speeding tickets in the future. :lol:

I think the basic point is that in the case of most vehicles if you had two 30 year cars both with 50,000 miles the one that was stock, OEM, unmolested, etc. would be worth more than the one that modified, chached up, etc.

With 30 year old VWs that aren't worth anything anyways there is more give and take on modifications. In my case I had an old rust bucket Thing that I "improved" by adding a bigger engine, bug tranny, better seats, disc brakes, XM radio, bikini top, etc. I enjoy driving it but never expect to get back out what I put in.

Sat Sep 15, 2007 7:32 am

I have a original factory 73 Thing muffler available