If the steel is still sound an exhaust shop may be able to quickly weld it
for you. Exhaust cracks near the heads are not trivial. Not only does
exhaust escpae but outside air can be sucked in. Out side air hitting the
back of exhasut valves can make for warped them. Seen if from blown out
exhaust gaskets.

Dennis

>From: Paul <wognacious@GMAIL.COM>
>Reply-To: Paul <wognacious@GMAIL.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Cracked exhaust pipe/Smog check
>Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 07:33:15 -0700
>
>Howdy,
>I'm due for my *annual *California smog inspection, the every two years BS
>doesn't apply to 85 Vanagons. In fact the Bay Area Air Quality Management
>District has added insult to injury by offering me a whopping $650 to buy
>my
>baby and then they want to scrap it. All this after I just invested close
>to
>$2000 putting in a rebuilt transmission and various other needed
>parts.........anyway I've been hearing the tell tale sounds of  a slight
>exhaust leak so I jacked her up and slid under and found that one of the
>exhaust pipes has a hair line crack in it at one of the bends. I have
>replacement parts but not the time to fix it as I'm in the process of
>moving. The crack is so small that after everything heats up the sound goes
>away. My question is will this affect the results of a smog check? I have a
>month to get her smogged  and will probably have the time to fix her before
>the end of the month but I would rather get the registration thing done now
>and then fix it at my leisure.
>Thanx,
>Paul