In a message dated 02/05/2004 2:40:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

About 15  years ago when I needed to renew an exhaust system, I called Gordi
at  4ever4.  He said he only used VW OE exhaust parts.  After I whined  about
the
cost, I asked him if he had a line on a stainless system.   He said, "Look, a
VW OE exhaust part lasts 75000 - 90000 miles.  What  more could you ask for?"
He was right.  And, I think Gordi is in one  of those balmier climates . . .
like New  Hampshire.

The _STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless  Steel_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)  guy just has to jump in here.  You left me no choice !  The  all stainless
steel system on my '87 Westy has been on there for eight years  now.  Van is
driven everyday all year round on the, well salted in  winter, roads of the
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada area.  Muffler & J-pipe by  STEBRO, CAT by Emico, header
pipes by Dansk.  Mileage is not the only  determining factor.  I think we
could drive the vehicle 75,000 ~ 90,000  miles without encountering conditions
which induce rusting of the  components.  Yes, I know about the condensation
factor and heating and  cooling cycles, yada, yada, yada !  Still, stainless
steel will outlast  anything you bring forward !
Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13, 2004
'87 Westy & Lionel  Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  & _CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or  http://frankcondelli.com