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Mon Feb 02, 2015 6:47 pm

has anyone bought a vintage speed stainless exhaust for a bus recently? Like within the last 6 months to a year maybe?

I have read all of the previous threads about these exhaust systems so I know what the issues are and I am wondering if they have addressed the fitment and alignment issues?

and yes I know I can contact the manufacturer (and have) but customers almost always provide a better review.

it seems a couple people say their systems fit like a glove, while most people describe severe issues.

Mon Feb 02, 2015 7:01 pm

I didn't have any issues. Superflow, heater box flanges, no heat riser. Unit is adjustable, so I found it to fit better than EMPI headers, is louder than a stock exhaust.

Mon Feb 02, 2015 7:14 pm

Jake, I purchased the 4 tip last year, and am running it on my 58. It fit well, but very tight to the rear apron. If i had to do it over again i would buy pictured above. I started smelling fumes the day I installed it. I have run with a C0 detector in the bus, no carbon monoxide, but I still have a faint smell of exhaust fumes when i slow down.

here are some pics of the fit.

I have since cut 4 1/2" off the tips

Tue Feb 03, 2015 3:39 am

I have the 42mm full flow standard tail pipe. Fit was awesome and packaging was like a work of art.
Don

Tue Feb 03, 2015 4:23 am

I have a couple of vintage speed exhausts,, one of which is currently in transit from vendor. I have one VS exhaust for the lowered vehicles installed by PO. Its functional yet at stops will the right breeze you may get a hint of fumes. No big deal in my book.. If in not smelling gas, oil and the bang of a typewriter I'm not living life to the fullest.

I also have the stock sport versions a well. The fitment I found much easier than reinstalling an empi, yet as others state some of the flanges #1-2 side for me could have lined up better for flow. This was on a bone stock engine. Am Currently having Pat at Vee W-Unlimited building me a Stroker and I'm interested to see if the VS exhaust flanges will line up any better because the engines slightly wider.

I'm still sold on the VS exhaust by it once by it for life!!

Tue Feb 03, 2015 6:20 am

I will be putting one on a type 4 conversion. Will post fitment results.

Tue Feb 03, 2015 7:58 am

Bought mine last summer and love it...

Tue Feb 03, 2015 8:09 am

I had to cut the apron for the muffler and cut some relief in the rear most tin to clearance the tubes with that white fiberglass looking material on them. Also needed to cut and custom make the heater boxes fit. It is a good system but it is fat and tight ime.

Tue Feb 03, 2015 8:32 am

Red Fau Veh wrote: I had to cut the apron for the muffler and cut some relief in the rear most tin to clearance the tubes with that white fiberglass looking material on them. Also needed to cut and custom make the heater boxes fit. It is a good system but it is fat and tight ime.

Just for clarity, yours is installed on a Bay.

Tue Feb 03, 2015 9:12 am

I am most concerned about the horrible alignment of the flanges? does anyone have pictures of their recently installed mufflers?

Also, I do not want to modifiy my apron and I do not think any 500 dollar exhaust should require someone to do so.

Tue Feb 03, 2015 10:26 am

sled wrote: I am most concerned about the horrible alignment of the flanges? does anyone have pictures of their recently installed mufflers?

Also, I do not want to modifiy my apron and I do not think any 500 dollar exhaust should require someone to do so.

I've probably installed 10 or so within the last year. From FI beetles, Type 4 bawindows, split buses, etc. and haven't had to modify anything. But then again, i'm a little biased :wink:

For pressed bumper buses i've found that the single early style tip and abarth styles clear with no mods. The tail pipe on the "hidden tail pipe" exhausts will hit the bumper.

Tue Feb 03, 2015 10:51 am

Planning on putting a 4 tip on my panel in the near future!

Tue Feb 03, 2015 11:55 am

VWsArent4Hippies wrote: sled wrote: I am most concerned about the horrible alignment of the flanges? does anyone have pictures of their recently installed mufflers?

Also, I do not want to modifiy my apron and I do not think any 500 dollar exhaust should require someone to do so.

I've probably installed 10 or so within the last year. From FI beetles, Type 4 bawindows, split buses, etc. and haven't had to modify anything. But then again, i'm a little biased :wink:

For pressed bumper buses i've found that the single early style tip and abarth styles clear with no mods. The tail pipe on the "hidden tail pipe" exhausts will hit the bumper.

Colby, curious if you are seeing the alignment issue on the top of the muffler where the primaries bolt on?

Tue Feb 03, 2015 1:33 pm

I've installed one in the last year and it was spot on. If you know how to install a multi-piece muffler, which I'm 100% sure you do, it will be fine. Most that complained about poor alignment were first timers, and were tightening the nuts and bolts in the wrong order, and didn't follow the directions that are included.

Tue Feb 03, 2015 3:17 pm

sled wrote: VWsArent4Hippies wrote: sled wrote: I am most concerned about the horrible alignment of the flanges? does anyone have pictures of their recently installed mufflers?

Also, I do not want to modifiy my apron and I do not think any 500 dollar exhaust should require someone to do so.

I've probably installed 10 or so within the last year. From FI beetles, Type 4 bawindows, split buses, etc. and haven't had to modify anything. But then again, i'm a little biased :wink:

For pressed bumper buses i've found that the single early style tip and abarth styles clear with no mods. The tail pipe on the "hidden tail pipe" exhausts will hit the bumper.

Colby, curious if you are seeing the alignment issue on the top of the muffler where the primaries bolt on?

No, I haven't run into that. Here's a straight on shot of that same engine, you can see they line up with the muffler fine:

Now, all the systems i've installed have been on stock stroke engines. I haven't installed any on strokers with larger diameter header pipes, so I can't comment on how those line up..

Thu Feb 05, 2015 4:15 pm

I installed one on a 59 and in all fairness it isn't marketed for early buses. The engine is stock 1600 and the alignment was terrible. Not my first exhaust either, barely started all the nuts and still wouldn't fit. You can clean the bolt holes up and get some more alignment out of it though. Flanges on top leaked also. Metal seemed thin and it flexed, bent under light torque. Rode against the apron and I had to cut a significant portion out of my bumper. It could all be fixed if they either used a smaller can or moved it down 1/8 of an inch. Spend $200 more and get an A1. This was about 5-6 months ago. Have sold the exhaust and gone back to stock. I was looking for more ground clearance and ended up turning the tip straight down and cutting it shorter. No more exhaust fumes 😴

Tue Feb 10, 2015 11:35 am

sled wrote: I am most concerned about the horrible alignment of the flanges? does anyone have pictures of their recently installed mufflers?

Also, I do not want to modifiy my apron and I do not think any 500 dollar exhaust should require someone to do so. horrible is exaggerating........ My gallery picture shows my VS heater version....they don't align with the port in muffler.....super mad about it.Owner wanted me to measure between exhaust ports, I wish he made a non adjustable version. Also its not equal merged header.......but Bus has been sold. But facing same delima.....I'm having a 1904 mini stroker built by Pat Downs at cb performance to go in my 60 kombi not sure what exhaust? I had A1 sidewinder on my 61 panel but it touched the apron.....don't want to blister the fresh paint.

Tue Feb 10, 2015 2:03 pm

JohnnyRingo wrote:
Also its not equal merged header.......

I believe the higher performance ones are, but not the "sport" system. Anyone confirm this?

Tue Feb 10, 2015 4:46 pm

GTV wrote: JohnnyRingo wrote:
Also its not equal merged header.......

I believe the higher performance ones are, but not the "sport" system. Anyone confirm this?

The sport and super flows are not equal length. The super flows are the same design as the sports, just with higher flow.

They do offer a separate equal length set up though, with a couple different tailpipe configurations

Wed Feb 11, 2015 6:05 am

GTV wrote: JohnnyRingo wrote:
Also its not equal merged header.......

I believe the higher performance ones are, but not the "sport" system. Anyone confirm this? nope......that's what I had was the super flow. I could tell a difference with the same motor running the A1 sidewinder. I had a 1915cc in both buses. But the panel was lighter.....anyway I like the fact that the VS is not in the way of 1-2 valve cover. If I go with A1 again I will order it with the v/band clamp.....it was a pain removing the three bolts every time to remove muffler. Just my two cents worth.