I see that there is a tiny hole in the end plate on the muffler of my 1991 Volkswagen Vanagon GL Campmobile.  Is there any reason not to just go down to the local muffler shop and have the muffler replaced?  Do I need to order the muffler from one of our online vendors in order to get the right muffler?  Also, I did have a tail pipe replaced at a muffler shop a couple of years ago, and the guy who installed it welded it to the muffler rather than using a gasket and bolting the new pipe on.  I suspect if I go back there, the same thing would be done again.  Is there anything wrong with this -- does it impair the function in any way or does it shorten the life of either the tailpipe or the muffler?  the corrosion and hole in the end plate of the muffler are on the opposite end, so I do not believe the welding had anything to do with that.

My mechanic mentioned that the Bolsa muffler offered by some of our vendors is a tad undersized, and that the last time he installed one he had to shim the straps to hold it properly.  He said I should get a European muffler (the Bolsa is from Brazil, I understand).

mcneely