I took it to mean "extractor" type or header exhausts on  AC VWs.  The heater boxes were usually removed altogether & you just had 4 pipes coming into a collector & a muffler, no cat, etc.  Sounded great if you were young!  I have a Magnaflow  exhaust on my 1776 dual Solex AC engine & it sounds very throaty, very loud & obnoxious-can't hardly hear the stereo blaring at 65 mph.

YMMV,

Mr. BZ-can't hear what you are yelling

On Nov 17, 2010, at 3:59 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:

> you're thinking of 1600 type air cooled Bug engines..
> with heater boxes.
> Usually the heater boxes last really well...
> so to do a muffler and tail pipes, you just replace the muffler that
> essentially just plugs onto the end of the heater boxes, plus onto the two
> rear cylinder's exhaust ports. ..    Very simple and basic.
> 
> however....to get better  performance out of an opposed four, plus have a
> good place for a cat...
> you end up making front and rear pipes that meet at a collector on the left
> side ..
> then a J pipe to a cat/muffler across the back.
> 
> that's got to be better breathing than the 1600 bug system ..
> plus a nice long place for a cat and good sized muffler acoss the back.
> 
> waterboxer exhaaust systems are not that bad.
> They are just not taken care of.
> I know that for most people an exahust system is ...
> when it wears out, you replace it,
> then you run it while it gradually deteriorates until it's time to do it
> next time.
> 
> Am I the only vangaon tech in north america that really gets under there and
> roots arond and tightens loose things ...and espeically ...treat against
> corrosion ?
> I feel like I am sometimes.
> I do not see that shops are anything but parts replacers really.
> 
> give you a perfec example..
> got an 87 Wesy in ..only 104K mimiles on it to ....guy's been driving with
> no reverse for I don' know how long..
> I'm not finished inspecting , adjsuting, and lubricating yet ..
> but I immediatly find the lever on the side of the trans, where it fits over
> splines is as loose as a goose..
> and ..
> of course, you let any spline system run loose, and it wears out the parts.
> No looseness, no wear ....what a concept !
> and the whole linkage is bone dry and worn and sticky.
> 
> so how it is that in 23 years no one has lubed and checked things ?
> like how can shops do tune up work and not notice the shift lnkage is vabue
> and wonky and needs a little attention and mention it to the customer ?????
> 
> these vans or such excellent vehicles.
> And they are not hard to take care of.
> And it looks to me like regular shops just know how to do things like clutch
> jobs and brakes jobs..
> and attenting to little simple things...
> such as tightening and a spray of lube is just completely beyond what they
> can do.
> 
> that's silly of course, but that is the standard of most car shops ..
> find *justifyable* profitable repairs to sell..
> then make as much as you can off it.
> the actual result on the car, or how well the car is actually taken care of
> ...
> has nothing to do with common professional car repair.
> It's just like social security and medicare make no mention of dental
> care. Is that stupid or what ? !!
> A fundamental health issue ..a prevetive and maintannce one ..
> and the focus is on repair after things break.
> 
> and many shops would tell this person they need all new almost unavaiblbe
> shif linkage parts ...
> and tie up the van waiting for the parts, and charge about 400 bucks, and
> STILL not lube the various little spots here and there that no one has ever
> lubed since the van was built.
> 
> people are getting ripped off in regular car repair .
> and I'm not saying becuase it's expensive..
> ( expensive is inconvenient, but it's not dishonest or anything like that by
> itself ) ...
> it's because shops evidently are unable to really see the details that need
> simple attention.
> 
> they'll last indefenitely if someone would just take care of them.
> It just can not be that I am the only person that sees moving mechaisms
> crying out for attention..
> and if owner's don't do it, shops sure won't. ..or can't.
> 
> anyway ...they're such great vans...
> so worth taking care of.
> a lot of people don't seem to take care of things.  A flat spare tire say
> ...not uncommon at all.
> 
> and I am going DARE Obama to tell amercians to stop idling their diesels.
> Too political to say of course ..but humans don't even take care of the one
> planet they have.
> oh well !
> enjoy our fine vanagons while we can !
> 
> The essence of it is , things that move and touch other things wear ..
> but if they're lubricated they don't wear much at all.    lol.
> 
> and exhaust systems benfit from inspection and care and corrosion
> prevention, and last longer and work better when cared for.  It's easy too.
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "A PETER MARSH" <apetermarsh@MAC.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 2:21 PM
> Subject: Talking about exhausts
> 
> 
>> FWIW
>> When I was a youth in the UK (many many years ago) - we had nice air
>> cooled Beetles and Buses and lots of other things I forget.  Also had
>> great sounding exhaust systems that were not the present "plumbers
>> nightmare" that were easily fitted to that engine.
>> 
>> What has happened to this simpler system I wonder?
>> 
>> Peter Marsh