2.1 vanagon exhaust pipes

[frank menschel]

hi any information on best and least expensive supplier for front/rear/j exhaust pipes for a 2.1 vanagon.
thanks
frank

[Creativemind]

Last Year I realized my stock system was rusting out and I purchased the S&S Exhaust System from Ken Wilford at Vanagain.com.

The unit was painted black but it was a crap basic black non-heat resistant paint. After my mechanic installed it, I was told it a bit rough to fit in.

Within 2 months of driving all of the black paint came off, 6 months later winter came and so did the rust all over the pipes by the end of that year.

Rust:
This summer I removed them, spent a week sanding all the rust off them then applied VHT high temp 2,000 degree exhaust primer & paint to them. So far parts of the paint peeled off already exposing the primer and I just re-coated them today. It has been rust free since the paint was applied. But its a battle of your on the east coast.

Sound:
The sound is much louder than stock, it has a throatier sound to them. If your looking for a louder pipe that give more a performance sound and live on the west coast they would be fine.

Power Boost?
Some say to have received power boosts after installation, I cant quantify an answer really. I thought initially I did notice something in comparison to my rusty stock exhaust but who knows really.

Other Products:
I know that there is a place called eVWparts.com that sells an inexpensive system but never knew of anyone who had bought one.

Ceramic Coating:
I have heard mixed things about ceramic coating as well, some tell it does not work, some swear by it.

Stainless Steel:
The best and ideal is this, check for a site by Frank Condelli Site, I think he might sell one. Never rusts. Very expensive.
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88 Wolfsburg, Automatic Silver Vanagon, 250,500 miles. Rebuilt Engine. 8/09

[SteveVanB]

I got/installed a set for the 1.9l from evwparts in Feb. and so far am pleased with 'em. I also got the hardware kit from Vancafe. I've been applying the p-nut oil every couple of months and it seems to be doin the trick. Oh yeah, the p-nut oil makes it smell REALLY GOOD Check the Samba classifieds...
http://www.evwparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Scr...gonExhaust
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91 CARAT

[Creativemind]

Hows the sound of eVWparts unit compared to the stock exhaust?
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88 Wolfsburg, Automatic Silver Vanagon, 250,500 miles. Rebuilt Engine. 8/09

[SteveVanB]

I would say it's nearly identical. I have a hollowed out cat with a stock muffler. Nice mellow tone.
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91 CARAT

[thewump]

[SteveVanB]

From the outside, you can't tell the cat conv. is empty. It was pretty plugged up so I poked all the crap out with a long screwdriver and hammer.
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91 CARAT

[Tomasz]

[Busdepot]

We sell both the S&S systems and the stock system. The S&S claims a slight performance improvement versus stock, although having used it I can't say I've noticed any "real world" difference. S&S also offers a ceramic coated option by special order (which we also offer). Theoretically it should last much longer than their standard steel version, although I have not personally tried it. Personally I prefer the stock system, and that's what I run on my '87. It is quieter than the S&S, the fit is a bit better, it is very solid and holds up well, and if a single pipe fails you can easily obtain and replace any piece separately.

Here you can find a diagram of all of the stock 2.1L exhaust parts, along with pricing:
http://busdepot.com/details/exhaust21.jsp
You can buy the whole system at a package price, or get the parts piecemeal. This is all top-shelf product, such as Dansk, Bosal, Ansa, and Ernst. I encourage you to compare prices. For example, my crossover pipe is $119, which is literally half of GoWesty's "not-returnable 10% over cost" $243 price; my muffler is $109 versus their $141 and Van-Cafe's $152.
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- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot
www.busdepot.com

[Tomasz]

those that compare prices make sure you compare brand name for brand name, GoWesty's crossover pipes are even more expensive under their +10% option than their regular site, which does not make any sense, however they do seem to have lowest priced Danska brand muffler, plus free shipping

[Busdepot]

This assumes that the Dansk muffler is worth more money than other competing top-tier brands. But it's not. Not only is the Dansk muffler no better, it is in fact the same muffler that is sold under several different name brands.

Often on BusDepot.com you will come across a listing where several name brands are shown for same listing (i.e. "Dansk, Bosal, or Ansa"). Usually the item features a "hot" icon, which on our site denotes a recommended and/or top selling product. My $109 2.1L Vanagon muffler is one example. I buy these by the hundreds, and put the screws on the top-tier suppliers for the lowest price, shopping one supplier against the other. $109 gets you a muffler from whichever top-tier supplier was "hungriest" at the moment and willing to cut the best deal. It has variously been Ernst, Dansk, Bosal, or Ansa, but always a top brand. Often I will also list specific brands at a higher price (for someone who is brand-particular and wants nothing but that brand), but usuallly your best bargain is the "hot" one that I've cross-shopped for price and quality. Otherwise you would end up paying $60 more for a muffler that was frankly no better, or maybe even identical.

As for crossover pipes, Dansk is the only supplier (besides the VW dealer), so the $243 GoWesty one is identical to my $119 one. But you raise an excellent point. GoWesty claims that everything on their full-line site is 10% over cost (and, incidentally, non-returnable). Yet their own sister site sells the $243 "10% over cost" part for $179. And I sell it for $119. So what is "cost," and how can the highest price be "10% over cost?" Buying a part at 10% over "cost" is not a bargain if the "cost" is high to begin with.

The moral? Be a smart consumer. Shop around, for price and quality.
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- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot
www.busdepot.com

[zerotofifty]

Jopex and Dansk it appears are owned by teh same danish company. I have a dansk 356C muffler. horrible welding, the weld bead inside the ports covered about 30% of the port area. after grinding it down it got somewhat better, but still not as good as teh original muffler. the steel pipe they forced into the flange was not tight aginst the flange, so even after porting the hole was still restricted becuase they did not force the pipes walls to fit the flange fully. piece of crap part.

next is my Vanagon header pipes made by that danish company Jopex, again JUNK, the welds are big and ugley and block the port opening, and the wleds in some spots were lesee than fulll penetrating. finally the #1/#3 header (2.1 liter wasser boxer) would not fit, they bent it wrong, and it hit on the case. piece of junk, even if you looked beyond the crappy (shitty) welding job on this danish piece of shit.


as far as i am concerned, Dansk and Jopex are rip off junk exhaust parts, they appear to be assembled by a drunk dane. these guys ought to stick to wooden shoes. totaly crappy products. and all it would take to get right is a little work with a jig and some propper welding training.

shame on this danish crap avoid it at all costs. maybe one day some one will make a decent, even a half way decent vanagon exhaust system. my engine should have been installed last week, but now we have to wait for an OEM pipe to arrive, no more danish crap, I am fed up with this shitty exhaust company. dansk, jopex, it is all danish for "shit".

[chimivee]

I have an S&S system on my '88. Fit, finish, and sound are poor. Any performance improvements are imperceptible to me.
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-James
86 Syncro Westy, etc

[tencentlife]

[RCB]

[zerotofifty]

whats teh cost, for the stainless for a 2.1 liter wasserboxer????

[tencentlife]

Dave, thanks for asking, but showing a pic is all the pimping I'm going to allow myself on the forum; I've already overstepped the rules. All the info is in my ad, click on the link in my sig, about halfway down is the pricing for exhausts. You can contact me via the email link in the ad.

Pipes are not stainless, though. If you have to have SS I'm not your man.
_________________
Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/

Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is kryptonite to doctrine.

[[email protected]]

All the Vanagon exhaust parts are OEM manufacture, either Dansk or Jopex, owned by ther same Danish company. They are the same thickness as stock. Catalytic converters are aftermarket, to compete with all the other aftermarlet, and mufflers are avialable German OEM or aftermarket.

[SWbySWesty]

I found one hole I put in my exhaust, but I'm still searching for another. My question is that I might only need to replace 1 pipe.

From my reading, it seems people have trouble since they are all rusty (mine too). Is it logical to spend nearly $400 additional to replace the entire exhaust when my muffler and cat are still good and I only need 1or2 pipes? (I'm in CA).
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1986 Westy - Billie Jean
A Westy with a Jeep heart (Pura Vida)
www.theadventurebrigade.blogspot.com - Latest update: Johnson Valley - Nov 22, 2011

[rushvan86]

Hey. I have got an 86 that had a busted connector pipe (catalytic converter back) I found Bus Depot has some really good prices (the best I found) for that certain pipe i needed. Mounted up and works great. Good Luck

http://busdepot.com/catalog.jsp?model=43&category=17&group=31
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86 Westfalia- Manual - "Jane"