I'm still not sure that I would wrap the pipes on a stock engine/exhaust just to try to keep the engine compartment cooler, although it absolutely makes sense if you have modifications that need to be protected.
  The reason I elected to install the wrap was that a buddy had made me up a complete custom header for my 85 Westy for just the cost of the pipes( In 1990 a complete system from VW cost around $2k) The new  exhaust system ended up sounding "tinny" and the collector was located in a spot I was certain would cook hoses & wiring. In retrospect it was probably over-kill... but that's how I usually approach everything unfortunately.
If you do end up insulating the pipes, I wonder if you can paint the wrap BBQ black to keep it from looking bandaged. ( Here I go again! )

Jim "over-kill" King
86 Syncro Westy (Terapn)

----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Miller <tmiller@VCMAILS.COM>
Date: Friday, May 20, 2005 8:24 am
Subject: Re: Exhaust system insulation

> John:
>
> I did that to my ceramic coated S&S header pipes with good
> results.  No more
> burns from accidentally touching hot exhaust pipes while trying to
> findthose elusive coolant drip sources!  It does make a big
> difference in the
> amount of heat in the engine compartment area, and camper spaces
> are cooler
> too.
> TEMiller
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 9:43 AM
> Subject: Exhaust system insulation
>
>
> > I've given some thought to putting an insulating wrap on the exhaust
> > system  of my van to help alleviate some of the heat that soaks the
> > engine area and to help dampen noise.
> >
> >  I know there is a trade off when this is done. Heat held in the
> exhaust> will burn out the pipes sooner. But that heat escaping
> through the pipes
> > cooks everything back there, especially  in the summer time, and it
> > seeps into the vehicle interior as well, when the engine shuts down.
> >
> > Has anyone had any experience - positive or negative - with
> applying and
> > insulating wrap to the pips??
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > John Rodgers
> > 88 GL Driver
> >
>