In a message dated 5/3/2002 12:24:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

> Muffler Brackets

       The muffler brackets are just part of the problem/solution.  The <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm">
STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers</A> I sell come with their own integral 
mounting brackets that are designed to give some suspension to the muffler 
thereby reducing the stress on the connections throughout the system.  The 
other part of the solution is to use fibre doughnut gaskets between all the 
connections except for the header pipes to collector connections.  This helps 
to reduce the stress at the connection and reduces flange to pipe cracking.  
Using steel doughnut gaskets or flat gaskets as OEM equipment uses will lead 
to failure of the pipe to flange connection.  All the STEBRO/Vanagon Mufflers 
and J-pipes come with loose flanges that require the use of doughnut gaskets 
for this reason.  
       All that said, the fibre doughnut gaskets present their own problems.  
They seem to fail from burnout quite frequently.  Part of the problem being 
that they compress over time and you will need to re-tighten the flange bolts 
frequently.  If the bolts are not kept tight then the burnout of the gasket 
occurs more quickly.  We have tried installing metal sleeves inside the 
doughnut gaskets thinking that would reduce the compression somewhat, that 
made them last awhile longer but did not solve the problem altogether.  We 
are now experimenting with using a high temp silicon RTV gasket sealant on 
the doughnuts to see it that will remedy the problem.  At any rate changing 
the doughnut gaskets now and then is a much lesser PITA than changing cracked 
pipes and mufflers.  Using the stainless steel flange bolts and nuts we 
supply make it a very simple job to replace the gaskets.  
       You will notice on the <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm">STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust System</A> 
website that we are no longer supplying the gaskets for the above reasons.  
There is a lengthy list of recommended gaskets to try.  The prices of the 
mufflers and J-pipes have been adjusted because of this.  We have also 
adjusted the price of the mufflers and J-pipes to show their cost without 
shipping.  Shipping is now added after you make an order dependant on how 
many pieces you order.  See the website for complete details.

Cheers��

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm">BusFusion</A> a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, May 30, 31, June 1, 2, 2002
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains
Member: <A HREF="http://www.vanagon.com/">Vanagon List</A>, <A HREF="http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/">LiMBO</A>, <A HREF="http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/CIW_English.asp">IWCCC</A> & Capital City VW Club 
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm">STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers</A> �
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html">Frank Condelli & Associates</A> or http://frankcondelli.com