mine did the same thing near the muffler.

Joe
85gl waiting for the head gasket fairy to come around :)
naw just have to make time. hehe

--
Joseph  Fortino
fortino1@onebox.com - email
(510) 360 -7829 voicemail/fax

----         Blake Thornton <thornton@MATH.UTAH.EDU> wrote:
> 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
> > >
> > >
> > > _________________________________________________________________
> > > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
> > >
> >
>

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