In a message dated 23/04/2007 2:26:06 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Hi  All,
Is there anyone out there that can recommend a muffler place in the  Chicago=
area?  My '87 Westy needs a new muffler. =20
=20
Also,  anyone have their complete exhaust system repaired recently, if so, c=
ould  you provide me with a quote of cost to replace the entire exhaust  syst=
em?  Just curious.
=20
Thanks in  advance,

Jenny,  may I suggest you consider using my Stainless Steel Exhaust system -
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Exhaust System_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm) .  This will insure it's the last time you have to have  your
system replaced.  The labour to change an exhaust system on a Vanagon  can vary
wildly due to the problem of getting the eight connections at  the four head
flanges off.  If the come loose easily then things  are fine.  But if any of the
connectors break because they are seized and  badly rusted then your in for
some labour charges to fix the problem.  It's  always best to remove all the
connectors so that the exhaust ports can be  cleaned and made flat so the new
gasket will seal well.  Then, use all new  stainless steel bolts, coated with
anti-seize to install the new headers to  the heads.  The other problematic area
is the muffler brackets.  If  your brackets are fine then replacing with a
stock muffler is easy.  If  your brackets are rusted away then you will need to
remove them and the bolts  tend to seize in the engine/muffler carrier and can
be a lengthy job to  remove.  Those brackets are expensive dealer items only
hence one of the  reasons to consider my STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel
Muffler, as it comes with  it's own integral brackets plus the tail pipe.  You will
see on my website  an Installation guide for my stainless steel system.  This
guide can be  useful to anyone installing any system including OEM ones.  Hope
this helps  !

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains (_Collection
for sale_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
- Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007