Adam,

I thought the theory on stainless was that the stainless bolts would
corrode much less then normal steel bolts.  I too have stainless bolts on
my exhaust (and I paid a pretty penny for these fasteners).  Are you
saying that I am better off with corrosion then I am with the stainless
bolts?

blake

On Wed, 28 Nov 2001, Vanagon Man wrote:

> Stainless steel is not stronger than steel.  It is more brittle.  Stick with
> high grade steel fasteners for jobs such as this.  Leave stainless for the
> ornamental stuff (screws holding in mirrors, etc)
>
> Adam P
> 81 westy (3 of them)
> 74 beetle
> 73 Transporter (at paint shop!)
> 70 Single Cab  "Whitey"
> Vanagon Partsmobiles
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kim G" <ppg1@HOTMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2001 1:52 PM
> Subject: Re: Missing Exhaust bolts
>
>
> > The same thing happened on my van too, after I replaced the exhaust.  I
> used
> > all new stainless nuts and bolts w/ anti-seize.  It has become habit to
> > check the bolts when I crawl under the van now.
> > Also, my brand new complete exhaust that I installed in May of this year
> > already has 2 broken brackets.  Not what I expected when I paid close to
> > $500 for all new exhaust, and it has started to fall apart in 6 months
> time.
> > bye,
> > Kim
> > 85 GL
> >
> >
> > >From: Blake Thornton <thornton@MATH.UTAH.EDU>
> > >Reply-To: Blake Thornton <thornton@MATH.UTAH.EDU>
> > >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > >Subject: Missing Exhaust bolts
> > >Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 11:29:26 -0700
> > >
> > >I climbed in my 84 van this morning and turned it on, and boy did it
> sound
> > >rough.  I figured it was just cold (it was probably 15 degrees F here in
> > >Utah this morning) and I figured the van needed to warm up.  Well, it
> > >sounded very rough the whole ride and when I got home I looked underneath
> > >and took a look.
> > >
> > >Where the collector pipes (attached to the heads) meet the next pipe (the
> > >pipe with the O2 sensor in it), there are four bolts (two for each pipe),
> > >and I only had one.  Somehow three of the bolts came undone!  I put a new
> > >exhaust gasket (it was missing where the bolts were missing) and put in
> > >some new bolts, but why did this happen?
> > >
> > >I recently put on a new exhaust system (less then a month ago), and I am
> > >fairly sure I tighten everything down good.  Just to be sure, I checked
> > >all the exhaust bolts and there were a few that were looser then I liked
> > >(so I tightened them up).
> > >
> > >What do you think?  Was I careless, or was the heating and cooling cycle
> > >on a new exhaust system enough to loosen the bolts?  Or was it something
> > >else?
> > >
> > >Blake
> >
> >
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>