That's excellent advise Wes.
Right on.
'specially about the multiple PB blaster treatments. 
Like 3 times a day for a month.

To Ryan..........
Maybe I will write a paragraph about what fantastically viable, useful, and
irreplaceable  fixable, and practical/versatile vehicles vanagons are. 
The are VERY worth taking care of.
And preserving, and saving, and using.   
And then hubbies all over can show it to their wives.
They are not 'just some appliance' like a refrigerator or a tv.
They are a lifestyle, a cultural movement, and a huge family of wonderful
people, and there just is not anything to replace them really.  Heck, show
her this. 
 And show me another US-available, 'sporty not-quite-truck' that you can
work on yourself, go places where you need some ground clearance, push start
if you need to, camp in, fish out of, haul junk in and fix yourself, as I
already mentioned, and so forth. 
They ain't nothing else that'll do all that a vanagon can, not that we can
get in the US normally................. Period.                 ( And
deliver 18 to 30 mpg, depending on model, too  ) 
Scott
www.turbovans.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Wesley Pegden
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 2:30 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: S&S Exhaust system, how bad????

I got the S&S system a few years back because I couldn't afford the OE
system, and feel it was a mistake, especially because of the issues I
had installing it.  The exhaust job is already such a major PITA.  If I
were you, I would put off replacing it if you can (until you actually
have major leaks they won't overlook), then replace it with the original
system "the right way".  The other thing about the S&S system is it
doesn't last as long (it's thinner metal).  You don't want the money pit
coming back for another system after a few short years.

Also, get out some pb blaster or whatever and start making regular trips
out to the van to spray those exhaust studs now, to decrease the chance
you twist one off when removing a nut when you end up doing the job.

-Wes

Ryan Shawley wrote:
> The inspector man told me to think about a new exhaust for this upcoming
inspection.  I currently have what I think is the S&S system, it surely
isn't stock.  Searching the archives shows that some people have one hell of
a time installing the S&S.  Is this still an issue?  I haven't seen many
recent posts that discuss this at length.  I'm also thinking of sourcing
some used components as I need everything but the CAT.  Anyone have any good
used stuff for the 2.1 in western PA.  Obviously the cost and conditon would
dictate which route I go.  I guess the truth is I don't have the $400+ to
replace the OE system.  My wife is still suspicous of my big white money pit
in the driveway.
>
> Ryan
>
> *actually it hasn't been a money pit, just some nickels and dimes so far,
I paid to much up front though
>
>