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Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:09 pm

My 74 Super Beetle is all stock, and this coming paycheck I'll have some play money saved up.

Thinking 1 3/8" headers, but I'm not sure about the muffler. Suggestions? Aside from the headers and the muffler itself, is there anything else I'll need to buy? (Learning as I go, don't shoot :oops: )

I like the Stinger, and most of the time I'd be fine running it daily, but I'm sure it'd get annoying eventually. Anything that's reasonably loud but not as obnoxious?

Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:42 pm

Make sure and get all the gaskets you need. Is it fuel injected? What does your rear apron look like? These things will effect what you can put on it.

Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:45 pm

Get a 1-3/8" with a single QP.

Running a stinger will actually hurt performance.

Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:48 pm

wompninja wrote: Make sure and get all the gaskets you need. Is it fuel injected? What does your rear apron look like? These things will effect what you can put on it.

This is a picture of my Beetle ... rear apron. Figure that's all you should need?

No FI, stock carb. (Did they make 74 Bugs FI? I thought it was 76 that they started with FI).

Gaskets ... what ones do I need? These?

http://www.aircooled.net/new-bin/viewproductdetail.php?keyword2=MEH0019&cartid=1118200829474828

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Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:56 pm

75 was the first of the FI Beetles.

Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:59 pm

I'm not a super guy so I have no clue on when they made fuel injection standard.

You need 4 of the gaskets that connect the header to the block two heat riser gaskets. 2 donuts and clamps that connect the header to the j tubes or heater boxes and whatever gasket is needed to connect your muffler to your header. I think thats all... I agree with Glen get the single quiet pack with the 1 3/8" header. It will probably come with the gasket to connect the two together.

Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:00 pm

I know a lot of people dont like them because they are loud and ugly or whatever, to each his own, but really? how can a stinger hinder performance?

Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:01 pm

fastinradford wrote: I know a lot of people dont like them because they are loud and ugly or whatever, to each his own, but really? how can a stinger hinder performance?

The stock engine needs some back pressure to work well and the stinger offers none. On a huge engine you are right the stinger won't hinder horsepower.

Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:05 pm

wompninja wrote: I'm not a super guy so I have no clue on when they made fuel injection standard.
Well... Beetles also went FI in 75. Both Beetles and Supers have the exact same drivetrain.

Also he only needs 2 exhaust gaskets since the heater boxes on #1 and #3 do not need to be removed. The header connects to the stock heater boxes the same as to the stock muffler.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:01 am

FHere is my two cents FWIW.

I hate non-stock exhausts on a stock engine. For a stock engine, I would use a good quality European/German exhaust. Any gain in horsepower you will see on a stock engine will not be noticeable. The downside is more noise. Its also been my experience that more heat is produced from a header.

VW spent many millions of dollars in R&D perfecting the engine systems on your car. Changing out one dimension without doing anything else will inherently cause an imbalance.

I have tried the header/low restriction muffler set up and prefer the stock system.

An additional downside of the header/low restriction muffler set up is you may attract more attention from the ricer crowd. Every bonehead with a fart pipe on a Civic will want to race you...and you will lose.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:10 pm

NOVA Airhead wrote: Every bonehead with a fart pipe on a Civic will want to race you...and you will lose.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Now that's funny right there.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:31 pm

gregthomas wrote:

Quote: NOVA Airhead wrote:
Every bonehead with a fart pipe on a Civic will want to race you...and you will lose.

Now that's funny right there.

...unfortunately it doesn't stop there. You will also get the kids and rednecks in the POS '70s vintage Chevelles, Dusters, etc with loud/bad mufflers wanting to race. And again you will lose while choking on the smoke coming from the tailpipes of their very worn engines.

At least this has been my experience.

I changed out my header and low restriction exhaust for a Danish made set up last summer. Based on the seat of the pants experience, low end torque and response improved. Top end seemed to suffer a bit. Since I don't exceed the speed limit, it was only noticeable on steep mountain grades.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:55 pm

I have a stinger, and I HAD a baffle, before someone snatched it out in a walmart parking lot...

I bought a strainer for a sink, opened the holes a bit, and stuck is on the end, I had to cut the stinger down about an inch, but it is much much quieter, and runs smoother now.

Looks cool to, people keep asking me where to buy one.
It cost a grand total of $0.99 8)

I agree, not for everyone, but it floats my boat alright.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:25 pm

My 2 cents:

CIP1 offers a Genuine VW exhaust that is made in Mexico. I have a very similar one on my car, except mine is made by EMPI. I was going to buy this one, except I found the EMPI one locally, so I bought it instead. It fits great, is very quiet for a VW, and fits the stock apron holes without mods. It gets rid if the typical VW sound. Some like it, others don't. If I had a 60's bug, I'd go stock. A 70's Bug to me, just isn't that much a classic, and doesn't need to sound like a classic VW. Just my opinion. I haven't noticed any power improvements, and I can't tell if the car is running cooler or hotter than it used to. However, I like that it is genuine VW. Gets rid of the "engineers spent 1000's of hours" argument, while adding a somewhat custom exhaust.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:49 pm

swhitcomb wrote: My 2 cents:

CIP1 offers a Genuine VW exhaust that is made in Mexico. I have a very similar one on my car, except mine is made by EMPI.
Uh.. this is junk.

Even if you get the VW one... still junk.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:05 pm

what makes you say that other than opinion?

Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:09 pm

They flow less than stock. A friend bought a car thathad one on and switched back to a stock muffler and the engine ran better.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:12 pm

Well, I had this same engine in my Ghia with a stock exhaust. I think it runs slightly better with this exhaust. (I swapped the engine in to my Bug while I decide what to do with the Ghia). It's no race car. It's mostly stock except the 009 that I am saving up to replace with an SVDA. I don't know, I am very happy with it. I haven't Dyno'd it or anything, so I have no scientific data.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:00 pm

That setup is what I currently have on my daily driver with a stock 1600 engine (single carb, 009, dual port, chrome shroud, no flaps or thermostat).

I like the way it sounds and I can cruise at 70 or 75 with no issues. I did cut the carb heater tubes and weld them shut. That way my chrome apron can fit in there. I don't run heater boxes or heat to the carb. No icing problems even with the recent cooler weather.

It may be junk, but I like it over the stock pea shooter sound and looks.

If I ever build a performance engine, I'll get a real exhaust. As for now I'll just have to enjoy Glann's video.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:50 pm

I beat ricer the other day. I was actually quite comical. He missed a shift. :lol: 1641 power baby! Btw i have dual quiet packs. Everyone says they suck but i love the sound and i dont care that they're not quiet.