TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:25 pm

I know squat about mufflers, that said... Is there a certain size muffler that goes on say an 86 Syncro or is a muffler a muffler a muffler? The PO put a new one on before I bought the van and it sounds louder than any van I've had or heard driving around. At first I thought there must be a hole or a loose fitting but Midas assured me its all sealed up. It looks larger than whats on the other Syncros I see around town...
Thanks,
Mat

Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:02 pm

The stock muffler for your Syncro should have a 18 1/16th circumference or 5 7/16's diameter, and be 27" long.

Sat Mar 10, 2007 10:35 pm

Thanks for the info Terry... I checked my measurements and something doesn't match here. The muffler itself is only 14 inches long and is oval in shape (7inch high & 5inch width).
What effect does this have on the engine other than the obvious sound difference?

Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:20 pm

Well, a circle 5-7/16" in diameter would have to have a circumference of 17-1/16". A circle with circumference of 18-1/16 would have a diameter of 5-3/4".

Andrew

Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:28 am

<<Well, a circle 5-7/16" in diameter would have to have a circumference of 17-1/16". A circle with circumference of 18-1/16 would have a diameter of 5-3/4".>>

Andrew,
Glad you caught that-I was reading one thing and typing another--
The VW 2.1 stock muffler has a 18 1/16th circumference, and a 5 3/4 diameter.

A Walker muffler ( both for the 1.9 and 2.1 ) has a 5 .5" inch diameter which would be just about 15.25 circumference.

Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:29 am

Wow, thats great... but now that we've determined that the muffler i have is not stock (a good 13 inches shorter and not cylindrical in shape) i repeat: What effect will this have on engine performance?

Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:32 am

It depends.
No not a diaper---
It depends on what kinda muffler it is---
Is it baffled, straight through, or a Turbo muffler?

How big are the inlet & outlet pipes?

One question--how is it mounted if it isn't a stock muffler?
What happened to the flanges to the converter & tail pipe ?
Somebody weld them the XYZ muffler?

How are the stock upper saddles & lower straps fit to hold it up?

Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:04 pm

A picture says a thousand words (if I could only get the damn things to show up) :roll:
Here are two links to the photos of the muffler in question...

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/336382.jpg
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/336381.jpg

Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:23 pm

That which you have hanging off of the converter is not a factory, or even a aftermarket muffler set up.
I lkke the bailing wire tying it up treatment--it's real rustic looking, and a nice touch.

The inlet and outlet look plenty big enough to allow the exhaust to flow freely. Don't go down a fire roads in the woods or hit any deep pot holes--you'll have this set up ripped off in no time.

Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:58 am

That, my friends is an S&S "performance" muffler. I have one on my 2wd 85GL. I seriously doubt that the "free-flow' characteristics are upsetting your 2.1's mixture. I got mine from Vanagain Ken about two years ago.

~Mike.

Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:15 am

Wow.

I've heard of the S&S muffler set up but never saw one stuffed up into the back end of a Vanagon.

It kinda looks like it's shoehorned up in there, and appears to make your ground clearance a little bit shorter for sure.

From the picture it appears as though it would be banging against the rear, lower, filler panel --once you got the engine rocking in it's mounts.

Looks like a Thrush aftermarket turbo muffler laid on it's side, with a little tab to mount it tack welded on the case.

Kewl--

Mon Jun 25, 2007 7:00 pm

so much for help you asked for . take it off , purchase the correct one , fit it and listen to the difference .
if finances are tight watch thesamba classifieds or ebay for a used one . i was once told that vw engines were matched to their particular exhaust system .

Tue Aug 18, 2009 3:32 pm

Terry Kay wrote: <<Well, a circle 5-7/16" in diameter would have to have a circumference of 17-1/16". A circle with circumference of 18-1/16 would have a diameter of 5-3/4".>>

Andrew,
Glad you caught that-I was reading one thing and typing another--
The VW 2.1 stock muffler has a 18 1/16th circumference, and a 5 3/4 diameter.

A Walker muffler ( both for the 1.9 and 2.1 ) has a 5 .5" inch diameter which would be just about 15.25 circumference.

Recycling this older thread, as it gets close to my question:

How can I positively determine if an OEM muffler is 2.1 or 1.9? If the stock 2.1 circumference is 18 -1/16, what is the circumference of the stock 1.9? thnx

Tue Aug 18, 2009 4:54 pm

The answer to that is pretty simple.

Take a stroll into VW and buy one.

You'll know it's OE for sure

If you want OEM--then anything goes from any vendor.

Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:25 pm

Terry Kay wrote: The answer to that is pretty simple.

Take a stroll into VW and buy one.

You'll know it's OE for sure

If you want OEM--then anything goes from any vendor.

Thank Terry. I don't want to buy new from VW if I don't need to. To be clear I actually don't really need it to be OE, I just happen to be looking at one that I think is authentic NOS from a "used parts" vendor. I just don't want to put a 1.9 muffler on there.

(btw, I think if someone happens to have the straight answer to my question it would be a far more simple solution than the one you proposed, as the local VW dealer is about a 5 mile stroll from the convenience of my keyboard.)

Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:41 pm

It's not only the diameter --it's the length --

The 1.9 muffler is a bunch shorter than the 2.1--it's pretty obvious.

The 1.9 is 23.5" long the 2.1 is 27" long.

Tue Aug 18, 2009 6:29 pm

ah...grazie! Now that's great Samba.

And here's some more great Samba...

Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:53 pm

I have a stock harley davidson muffler on my van. It runs fine, and believe it or not.... sounds quiet. I don't have the money to purchase $200 dollar OEM mufflers, or much else OEM for that matter. Most of the time I make the parts I need, if I can.

I think that s&s looks and works just fine.

Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:20 pm

:D You may want to check autopartswarehouse. They have 'OEMs' starting at 114 with free shipping. I've not use one, and who knows about the quality.
Charles

Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:28 pm

What in the heck is wong with an 80 buck OEM Walker Muffler that's warranted for life?

I don't understand how you guys don't catch the first portion a discussion, and go of into La-La land.
The Walker price is the best available--and the warrantee is unsurpassed.

I run a chrome Moto Guzzi 750 Ambassador muffler's--with a fish tail extension on my Vans-

The chrome looks good under the bumper--

And the Harley Haloween guys like the fish tail look--

Nuts--