'78 Westy exhaust - can I swap from US spec to EU ?

[peagreenbus]

I have a question on a 1978 bay with the type 4 2L engine.
Californian import into Europe.
Full exhaust replacement -

The heater smells of exhaust if I put it on to heat - so I don't and we freeze! - so I suspect aging leaky heat exchangers. (And seals, etc).
It all looks pretty rusty down there.
The existing setup is manifold pipes into "after-burner" 180 degree curves going into the heat exchangers, out to a cat and then into the silencer. Tailpipe out on passengers side. I think this would have been stock for a US Californian vehicle.
I think I want to replace the whole lot with European exchangers and silencer. I am presuming I can just loose the cat.

A few other detalis -
The FI was stripped out by a PO. I replaced the very wobbly empi thing that the PO had put on in its place, with a pair of Dellortos.
There are no sensors any more on the cat, and no egr setup.
Bottom engine tin, which would have been specific for the US exhaust, has gone along with the thermostat - so a side effect of this is that I will replace stat with a remanufactured one - and the tin with EU tin to fit EU exhaust.

My question is whether this is the right thing to do or should I replace with US parts? And do away with the cat?

Any help would be gratefully received.

[busdaddy]

If you don't have to do a smog test then there's no reason you need the cat. The deciding factor for your swap will be the shape of the exhaust ports on the heads, if it has the 72-78 oval ones then it's no problem, the 79+ square ones will be more difficult to work with off the shelf parts on, but not impossible.
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[williamM]

Just did this exact thing to my Riviera

Don't know what happened there but edit turned into quote???
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[williamM]

[peagreenbus]

Gentlemen?
(And Mrs Gentlemen?)
Any other views on this?

Its a 1st January 1978 cali bus and I'm pretty sure its with oval ports. Its pretty rusted up down there and I'm working my way through without sheering the studs.

I just want to know if I can strip off the whole cali exhaust and HX's and fit UK ones, ports to tail pipe. New lower engine tin of course - but the old tin is missing anyway along with the thermostat.

Anyone know where I can get a left side under-engine Tinware?

Many thanks

[Zed999]

Yes you can. You need a pair of heat exchangers an exhaust and tailpipe. If you use JK in the uk they have good quality stock earnst exhausts. Avoid the Jopac ones.

[rusty busty]

That's the setup I'm ruining on my 78. Much simpler/better system imo.

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1978 CEII Get-away hightop

[peagreenbus]

Now that looks a lot easier..
The Cali setup looks like spaghetti junction!
Many thanks and I’ll be off to JK for the bits.