Neil,

Pay attention to the stock system and consider using the same diameters and
lengths of pipe.

Exhaust systems are designed for length to the collector, from the collector
to the end of the exhaust pipe and the diameters of each of these pipes. For
that matter, the length of the intake is designed to tune the engine as
well.

I have book on tuning 4 stroke engines and another on engine design. The
second is extreemly engineering technical, the first has pretty basic
formulas for designing an exhaust system based on displacement, valve size,
etc. If anyone is interested, I'll dig it up. In my aircooled days, I used
the books to compare off the shelf exhaust system and to choose velocity
stacks for my Weber carbs.

Maybe, for a stock engine, this is overkill, but if you are going to go
through the process of building a custom system, you might as well enhance
the system or build like stock.

Kim

----- Original Message -----
From: "neil N" <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 8:01 AM
Subject: Vanagon exhaust diameter? + Custom exhaust fabrication questions.

> Hi all.
>
> I'm gathering parts to fab up the exhaust for my Jetta conversion. My
plan:
>
> Short run of 1 5/8" 90 degree pipes from manifold to collector, then a
> "J" pipe forward, around, and back to stock Vanagon cat and muffler.
> OR an aftermarket cat and muffler with 2" inlets/outlets.
>
> After the collector, the Jetta is 2" pipe.
>
> What is the diameter of exhaust pipe on the Vanagon?
>
> Can anyone direct me to a quiet good sounding, good fitting after
> market muffler?
>
> And how "tight" a bend can be made (mandrel bent) on 2" aluminized steel?
>
>
>
> Thanks!
>
> Neil.
>
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"
>
> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>