Great, I hope that's it.
that would be a nice easy fix.
and being a nut and bolt connection there, it's easy to remove the bolts,
and pry the pipe back a bit with a screwdriver and slip in another gasket.
It's fiddly, but doable.

another subject..
I always paint all my pipes and mufflers, tailpipes etc. with 'Flame Proof'
brand  high temp exhaust paint.
that paint lasts up to a year ..
keeps them from getting rusty looking.  A whole lot better, than bare metal,
for very little cost investment, to help them last longer .

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Goubeaux" <john@ucsb.edu>
To: "Scott Daniel - Turbovans" <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 11:07 PM
Subject: Re: Pesky Vanagon exhaust system.....

> Thanks Scott,
>
> Yes I like the idea of dbling up the gasket. Obviously I did not get a
> good seal there on the cast iron joint. And it's kinda hard to see for
> sure if you are getting a good mate with the surfaces, so in some ways
> making the adjustment now, eg with the engine in the car, where i can fire
> it up and confirm no leak has it's advantages. The leak appears to be the
> joint where the forward header connects too.
>
> -john
>
> On 4/23/2011 8:06 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>> hi,
>> no sealant on the exhaust gaskets.
>> ( they don't need it, and oxygen sensors can get ruined by some type of
>> sealants )
>>
>> sometimes, on that cast iron junction piece, it's normal to need double
>> gaskets on one of the pipes ..like usually they 'forward cylinders' pipe
>> .
>> I've seen that a number of times.
>> so see if that might make a better meeting of the pipes there with that
>> cast iron piece.
>>
>> nut type doesn't matter too much.
>> non-copper ones tend to rust in place after a long time. Copper is a
>> better material to use there for sure.
>>
>> it's normal always to retighten all exhust fasterners after a few
>> warm-up-cool-down cycles.
>> Just don't break off any studs that screw into the heads or anything ..
>> but for the nuts and bolts ....tighten them very firmly by hand.
>>
>> always use copper anti-seize compound ( or aluminum, but copper is
>> better ) on the theads of all fasteners on the exhasut system.
>>
>> I suspect your aftermarket pipes might not fit that well.
>> there is some tendency to 'normalize' after numberous heat cycles...then
>> thighten nuts and bolts more.
>>
>> see if two gaskets on the forward pipe isn't something that would help,.
>> at that cast iron piece.
>>
>> laying on your back under the ( van elevated some ) is a comfortable way
>> to work on them.  Creeper helps of course .  I sure like that better than
>> van on a lift where  you are working with your hands over your head
>> looking up . On a creeper ...things are right in front of you , nice n'
>> comfortable.
>> Or lay on a large piece of cardboard perhaps.
>>
>> scott
>> www.turbovans.com
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Goubeaux" <john@UCSB.EDU>
>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 7:18 PM
>> Subject: Pesky Vanagon exhaust system.....
>>
>>
>>> Any exhaust system experts have any advice to offer?  I just installed a
>>> new 2.1 engine in a 90 and ( with engine out) bolted on new exhaust
>>> header pipes and the heavy elbow flange that joins them together on the
>>> LH back corner. It was a bit of a bear to get em all to mate up
>>> properly, but with a lot of loosening and tightening and coaxing I
>>> thought I got em all snug ( poor fitting aftermarket parts I'm
>>> thinking). Well after start up it looks like I have an exhaust leak at
>>> one of the connections to the large elbow flange.  Damm - I'm thinking
>>> these were hard enough to mate with engine out, now I have to do it on
>>> my back  and looking up !
>>>
>>> So are there any tricks here ? Use a gasket sealer along with the
>>> regular flange gasket? Are regular nuts better than copper as it might
>>> be easier to tighten them down more ? I used copper thinking they were
>>> superior. Maybe I just need to use a bigger ratchet and tighten the crap
>>> out of the bolts, at the risk of breaking a bolt though. Maybe it's not
>>> uncommon to have to loosen/re-tighten them after a few heat/cool cycles
>>> ?
>>>
>>> Any sympathy and or suggestions appreciated.   -john
>>
>