In a message dated 4/20/2003 2:42:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

> I'm afraid I'm at the end of my rope....I've been changing my header pipes
> and mufflers on my two vanagons for 10 years now and I'm finally defeated 
> by
> flange nuts anf bolts that are so rounded and frozen that
> I am unable to extract them.  Any tools that you have used that work
> well.... Has anyone ever tried MIDAS or MIENEKE to have exhaust work done.
> 

          Robert, this is why I developed and sell a stainless steel system 
and recommend repairing the header flange thread holes with helicoils and 
using stainless mounting hardware.  If the rear bolts & bolt holes are 
screwed up big time you will have to remove the motor to effectively do a 
repair, the front ones are accessable with the motor in place but still a 
major PITA.  Do it right once instead many times.  See my <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm">STEBRO/Vanagon 
Stainless Steel Exhaust System</A> and <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/sales.htm">Vanagon Items Forsale</A> webpages where you 
will find information about a complete stainless steel system.� Very straight 
forward to install as all parts are made to OEM dimensions.� You do need to 
make sure the bolts and studs on the motor holding header pipes to the heads 
are in good to excellent condition otherwise the threads and or studs/bolts 
need to be replaced.� If you need to do this I advise you to install 
Helicoils in the heads and use all stainless mounting hardware.� All mating 
surfaces on the heads must be flat & clean and use new gaskets with Loctite 
Ultra Copper High Temp Silicone Sealant on both sides.� Metal side of the 
gasket goes toward the head.� Complete stainless steel system including DANSK 
header pipes, cast iron collector, STEBRO/Vanagon J-pipe, EMICO CAT, BOSCH 
OXY sensor, STEBRO/Vanagon muffler w/tail pipe & mounting brackets, all 
gaskets and all stainless steel hardware is $1756 CND ~ $1225 USD plus $50 
shipping to any continental USA location.� Vanagon List member discount of 
5%.� You MUST ask for it when ordering.

Cheers��

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm">BusFusion</A> a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 12 ~ 15, 2003
'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/">IWCCC</A> & <A HREF="http://www.ccvwc.ca/">CCVWC</A>  
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