76 bus 2.0 exhaust question

[Globedog12]

I used a cheap and dirty Empi exhaust to get my bus on the road again but now I’m looking to get back to stock ish. I won’t be putting a cat back on for now. My question is how do I join this

To this?

And how do I support the tailpipe end of the muffler?
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1976 VW Type 2 Original fuel injection

[SGKent]

well, there is pipe called a cat delete pipe that goes in its place. You need the special donut clamp to be able to join the two. They are rare these days and outrageously expensive. The last ones I bought were almost $100 although you can find them in old stock sometimes for less than $20 if you get lucky. The last official price from VW on them was around $60.

The tailpipe is self supporting and it is curved. The muffler is held to the crossover with a special strap.
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George Carlin:
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Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice"

[Globedog12]

Something like this?

https://www.vanagain.com/product/muffler-clamp-kit
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1976 VW Type 2 Original fuel injection

[Globedog12]

Can it just be welded? Seems like that would be a better connection than the clamp. Especially because the one I linked to needs to be altered to fit. A quick google search came up empty for the correct size.
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1976 VW Type 2 Original fuel injection

[SGKent]

[Globedog12]

Looks like welding is the way to go for me. I can see the advantage of being able to drop the muffler just by removing the clamp if needed but it’s also another leak point.
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1976 VW Type 2 Original fuel injection

[dodger tom]

[SGKent]

[raygreenwood]

Then there is this. I "think" this may actually be made by EMPI.

It's a stainless knock off of a Thumderbird 4 into 1 header. Yes IIRC....and ai may not....Jake Raby noted that on a stockist or mild performance type 4 engine....the basic T-bird header even with its issues adds about an honest 10% hp if memory serves.

https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/us/ac251704-st...XcEALw_wcB


Ray

[SGKent]

[Globedog12]

I have the triangle flanges, 76 style heat exchangers. I would love if a triangle to trapezoid flange adapter was made although it would probably push the muffler too far out.
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1976 VW Type 2 Original fuel injection

[VintageExcellence]

Anyone know where to get this gasket? Seems to not be listed anywhere. 2 hole flange on the crossover.

[germansupplyscott]

It's part number 070 251 235A.
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SL

[germansupplyscott]

[airschooled]

That part would be wicked cool. Just like the “72-74 on a 79 federal” spacers you already sell.

Bummer the two triangle flanges aren’t oriented the same- iirc the left triangle is clocked slightly different so there would need to be a right and left side adapter piece.

Robbie
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[VintageExcellence]

[my59]

I paid $90 for the cat/muffler clamp. Turned out the one on the bus did not have the beveled ring that goes on the muffler tube, thus a leak spot.
The y pipe before the cat was defective out of the box, missing a spot of weld at a seam/flange connection. A Dansk aftermarket thing, my son welded it for me. Try as I might, the Y pipe flange to cat is slightly out of alignment so the assemble is not perfect. The flanges are all thicker than original, so had to replace most of the bolts with slightly longer ones, which made assembly more....challenging.
The cat no longer has any guts in it, so it looks like a cat and acts as a cat delete pipe.
The flange from the 3 4 heat exchanger was slightly dished, and despite using the thick gaskets, leaks slightly.
The tab on the 1 2 heat exchanger to fasten to the alternator bracket snapped off due to rust, I got creative with an exhaust clamp through the bracket to support the area, added jam nuts and lock washers to resist vibration.
The muffler itself is an original made 7/78.
All the bits and pieces set me back about $700.
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my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget.

[VintageExcellence]

Kind of on but off topic, has anybody had success smog testing a 76-79 bus in California with a hollow cat and it passes anyway?

My cat is hollow and I need to smog test it in California, our archaic stupid smog laws are so dumb. I can mount the old one I have on a rebuilt engine and see what the sniffer says. It would pass visual from the outside.

[SGKent]

[Globedog12]