In a message dated 9/13/2003 12:03:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

> Good evening voles.
> I have a 86 GL automatic and
> I am trying to seal some small gasket leaks in my exhaust. The flanges to 
> the
> heads are O.K. but the leaks are at both ends of the "J " pipe and at the
> exhaust manifold.
> Small leaks that I can feel at these area's. I have put new gaskets and
> donuts and tighten to the point that I snapped a few bolts. Any sealing
> compound/other techniques
> anyone could recommend?
> 

       Common problems !  First off you need to be absolutely sure all the 
gasket mating surfaces are true, clean and fit to accept a new gasket.  Use 
fibre doughnut gaskets in place of the steel ones.  See my <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm">STEBRO/Vanagon 
Stainless Steel Exhaust System</A> {http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm} webpage for 
details on the dougnnut gasket story, steel versus fibre and part numbers so 
you can get them just about anywhere.  Use Permatex/Loctite Ultra Copper High 
Temp RTV Silicone Sealant on the gasket surfaces.  Excessive force on the 
retaining bolts is not necessary or good.  Your just trying to rectify other 
problems of alignment with the torque on the retaining hardware.

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 10 ~ 13, 2004
'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