Thank you Dennis.   I concur.  The tailpipe outlet is in fact about 7-8 o clock as you say.    I was able to get the muffler fitted with I believe sufficient clearance from interference with other objects.   I have yet to fit the tailpipe and I may have to grind the flange a little or trim down the frame structure which might interfere slightly.    The engine runs without muffler rattles at present.    My work was interrupted by blizzard like conditions so I will continue when possible.        Steve

On Jan 21, 2014, at 9:37 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Looking at the muffler from the right side of the van, the tailpipe outlet
> should be about 7 to 8 o'clock. The tail pipe and cat side flanges are
> different sizes. The tail pipe flange should be threaded will the cat side
> uses nuts and bolts. The muffler may have loose or bad baffles inside which
> can create quite a racket. 
> 
> Dennis
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Steve Cotsford
> Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 10:14 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: 89 Bluestar muffler question
> 
> Well I have removed my muffler and heat shield.   Definitely not an easy
> job.   I modified the syncro heat shield by shortening it and replaced it in
> the normal 2wd position and I am fairly happy with the results.   I ground
> through the rivets and cut the lower piece shorter and then re attached it
> with number 10 nuts and bolts.   Its much neater and now the bolts for the
> muffler brackets are much easier to reach and the tabs are flush with bottom
> of the moustache tube.
> 
> I'm investigating the rattling noise coming from the muffler hitting the
> heat shield I think but I also found a tailpipe attachment bolt interfering
> with a tubular part of the van body.
> This muffler I bought used and it seems in reasonable condition. It was
> already attached to the brackets so I mounted it the same way.  
> It says "made in Israel" on it.    There are two ways to install it I think
> but probably only one is correct.      The tail pipe attachment point is
> excentricly located on the muffler end and can be up high or low down,
> depending on where the horizontal seam is.    This can be in clearance
> spaces near the engine or clearance spaces where the strap bolts attach.
> Mine had the seam where the attachment bolts attach and this made the
> tailpipe attach to the upper part of the muffler end.     Here, one bolt
> seems to be interfering with a tube of the van frame.
> I am thinking it might work better if I rotate the muffler body by 180
> degrees and have the tail pipe exiting lower down and the bolt will be
> further away from the frame tube member.
> Can someone tell me which is the correct position?      Thanks,  Steve
>