1980 CA exhaust replacement choices

[JDub113]

My air cooled exhaust is dented up but functional. I want to replace it so I don’t haven any future engine problems. Has anyone used Vintage Speed headers and muffler? Would that be good for performance and cht? No smog and I have a Webber carb.

CA exhaust

Vintage Speed

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84 Wolfsburg Edition Westy

[Mateo83]

Seems like it would work. I thought I read someone here saying it was pretty loud.
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83 Air-cooled 2.0 Tin Top

[zerotofifty]

I dont know about the aircooled Van, but I found on the wasser boxer Van many of the so called "stock" aftermarket exhaust made in Europe was of poor fit, mounting flanges not lining up, needing lots of work to fit leak free. And I mean LOTS of work, rebending the pipes, cutting off flanges and rewelding, it was that bad, not a "slight missaligning that can be cured with a push. I returned them and went with NOS factory from VW parts dept, found that it was a PERFECT fit at all flanges and gaskets.
For the water cooled Vans, I recommend trying to keep the stock factory exhaust if so fitted, unless you are going for some high performance stuff. Factory stuff fits perfect.

That is not to say that all aftermarket wont fit, my story was from like 20 years ago, and that NOS factory exhaust is still running fine today.

Note that for Bug heater boxes, factory has rather large aluminum heat transfer fins cast over the exhaust pipe that runs in the box. This greatly improves cockpit heat!!! Many aftermarket reproduction "stock" Bug heater boxes do not have any aluminum fins in them, just a bare exhaust pipe, so poor heat transfer, and that makes a VERY wimpy heater. This may or may not be the case with Van heater boxes. Just be aware that this can happen.

Good luck
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Sorry About That Chief.

Give Peace a Chance.

Words to live by.

[JDub113]

[zerotofifty]

[Xevin]

[Wildthings]

Dented up shells on the heat exchangers will not hurt much, but excessive rust on the pipes inside the HXs themselves will, but your van typically needs to have seen road salts for this to be a problem.

Switching your entire system over to a Federal system would be an alternative. Don't know the difference in price though.

[JDub113]

Looks like csp headers sold through heritage parts would work too and a stock federal exhaust.

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84 Wolfsburg Edition Westy

[JDub113]

Well I ended up buying the cheaper headers and stock muffler, its half the price.
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84 Wolfsburg Edition Westy

[MarkWard]

[JDub113]

It turned out really nice. No spacers.
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84 Wolfsburg Edition Westy

[kamzcab86]