TheSamba.com :: View topic - Can you buy rear splash pans to cover the exhasut header?

Sun Jan 04, 2004 2:59 pm

So I started to replace my exhaust system this weekend.. this is my very first "project" for my 78 westy...
I was AMAZED at how easy it all came off and came apart... PB blasted the nuts and bolts about 2 months back, and again a few weeks ago and all except 3 came off easily! Snapped 2 but I was replacing them anyway so I didn't care...

However, i realized my spalsh pans to cover the exhaust headers are in bad shape... I don't remember seeing any for sale anywhere. I know they're a simple part to fabricate, but I was wondering if they make aftermarket pans? And where would I find them is so?

thanks a bunch!
-joshua

Sun Jan 04, 2004 3:11 pm

Becuase the Exhaust is smaller then a regular car; becuase the engine being in the rear, I do not think they make these "pans" you are talking about. You can always make one, but I don't think its too neccessary. I may be wrong about this but I have never seen one on a car, or so the part for it.

Sun Jan 04, 2004 3:26 pm

You have a stock exhaust and you mean these warm air ducts?

Busted Bus (under engine-clutch, engine cover plates) or The BusCo (I see he has L at least) or the junkyard. Bus Boys may also have some used.

The parts numbers are 021-119-355E (left) and 021-119-356E (right) for the 75-78 pieces. The 72-74 pieces are 355B and 356C so don't get those by mistake.

Sun Jan 04, 2004 3:27 pm

If you mean the warm air ducts, those are stock. Maybe I got confused reading your thread...

Sun Jan 04, 2004 9:33 pm

ratwell wrote: You have a stock exhaust and you mean these warm air ducts?

Busted Bus (under engine-clutch, engine cover plates) or The BusCo (I see he has L at least) or the junkyard. Bus Boys may also have some used.

The parts numbers are 021-119-355E (left) and 021-119-356E (right) for the 75-78 pieces. The 72-74 pieces are 355B and 356C so don't get those by mistake.

My mistake (more liek ignorance).. they are the warm air ducts in the picture. Thanks for the sites.... Does everyone else replace these or just ignore them since they really don't seem too terribly imprtant... obviously didn't protect the parts above from rusting through!

Sun Jan 04, 2004 9:43 pm

They are not there to protect anything from rusting. They are there to direct the cooling air flow to the rear of the bus.

If VW felt they were not required, they would have left them off and saved a bunch of $$.

I have a pair if you want to put them back on. $10 each + postage from Fresno, Calif.

Sun Jan 04, 2004 10:03 pm

Normally they are so oily like in my photo that they don't rust out. I've never lived on the east coast but where the snow is mild to none I've never seen a rusty one.

Mon Jan 05, 2004 7:50 am

The one was bad enough i could have removed it without unscrewing the screws. THe other was still pretty good though. But I'll replace em both...

My bus is pretty bad though... the front axle beam is rusted through in one spot- so it's as bad as they get..... my guess is it's mostly if not all original because it's unbelievable rusty under there in damn near every spot...

speaking of which... sort of above these warm air ducts is an elongated oval shaped cover plate with a "flip open" locking handle like mechanism... Looks like access to the side of the engine case or soemthing? Can anyone tell me what this allows access to?
thanks!

Mon Jan 05, 2004 8:10 am

"speaking of which... sort of above these warm air ducts is an elongated oval shaped cover plate with a "flip open" locking handle like mechanism... Looks like access to the side of the engine case or soemthing? Can anyone tell me what this allows access to?
thanks!"

One on each side of the engine? These are valve covers. Also knows as rocker covers.

Mon Jan 05, 2004 8:54 am

ski2liv,

If you don't want to mail away for anything or you want them asap,
Since you are in Philly (or so says your profile, I live in Philly too) you could run over to Clarences across the Delaware in Riverside, NJ (856-461-9589). Its a air-cooled VW shop/junk yard. I recently bought a left side warm air ducts for a 78 engine I was throwing in my 79 bus while I rebuild my 79 engine. (the two years have different warm air ducts) Price was around 12 bucks if i remember correctly.