I would not go to a muffler chain for any exhaust work where you need to
change the pipes to the head. This can be a very tricky and nasty
proposition should the head be damaged. The rubber gaskets require very
careful work with a torch and the person doing the work should have the
tools and experience to drill the heads and install Heli-coils, with the
heads in place. It can be done. I've used methods ranging from the torch
to welding new nuts over the broken studs. I drill as the last resort
but an angle air drill will get to all the exhaust bolts. This is not
always a job for the faint hearted. You need a good mechanic, machinist,
welder for this job. You do not need the "I wanta be" mechanic getting
his initial experience in a chain shop.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Robert Copich
Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2003 10:17 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: midas,mieneke?anyone ever try em

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.
Thanks
Copich@msn.com

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