"McMike" (mcmike)
10/14/2014 at 12:40 • Filed to: drivewaymechanic, tutu153, vanagon
2
15|
"McMike" (mcmike)
10/14/2014 at 12:40 • Filed to: drivewaymechanic, tutu153, vanagon | 2
| 15 |
It's not the performance, it's the goddamn rust.
I have been driving these things for 20 years, and I think yesterday I ran out of patience with the stock system.
All these pieces (seven in all) will rust out in about seven years. That means that about once a year, I need to replace one of them.
This time, it was the tailpipe and muffler. Pretty easy, right?
Wrong (all the tools laid out on the floor were required to get this off)
You see, I just can't replace the muffler, because the bolts are hard to access. To get the muffler out, you have to remove the cat and then slide the whole thing out as a unit, put the parts on, then slide it back in.
If all the fasteners weren't crumbly with rust, I would just need to order one extra gasket, and installation is the reverse of removal.
Only one of the six nuts came off yesterday. I can't even get a wrench on them they're so bad.
So, now that I got it off, have new gaskets and fasteners, it's easy. These parts come off, and pipe 1, 2, 3, and 4 stay behind.
Nope. Pipe 3 and 4 connect via a metal donut gasket which gets tightened last, so (sigh) I needed to cut those three bolt off too.
FFFUUU #1 - The donut gasket fell out in two pieces. I don't have a donut.
FFFUUU #2 - While punching the cut bolts out of the holes of pipe 3, one of the flange ears broke off. I don't have that part either.
Now I need to replace pipe 3 (which I ordered as soon as I stopped crying) which sucks because...
I'll need to grind off four more bolts
I remember from last time that not !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .
Stock system, in all it's rare, non-rusted state
So, now I'm wondering if I'll need to replace pipe #1 or 2. If that's the case I'm going to lose it.
What a pain in the ass this has become. Why did it take this long to realize this?
How close am I to cutting it all out and ordering a $1600 stainless system?
505Turbeaux
> McMike
10/14/2014 at 12:42 |
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I always thought that system on the Wasserboxer sucked. I got pulled over for a loud exhaust the day after I replaced the whole thing back to bone stock with no leaks. Terrible system. You still running wasserboxers in yours?
SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> McMike
10/14/2014 at 12:48 |
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Can't you just coat it with some high temp enamel and not worry about it again?
Takuro Spirit
> McMike
10/14/2014 at 12:48 |
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Do you live, like, IN the ocean?
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McMike
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
10/14/2014 at 12:51 |
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I tried that once with some over-the-counter hi-temp paint. Burns off within a day.
Believe it or not, some people have tried curing it with peanut oil like an iron skillet.
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McMike
> McMike
10/14/2014 at 12:53 |
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Leaf blower was used about every 10 minutes to clear out the rust flake accumulation from under the car.
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> McMike
10/14/2014 at 12:53 |
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How does $1600 compare to the costs of "FUCK THIS, I'M ENGINE SWAPPING"?
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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> McMike
10/14/2014 at 12:54 |
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Exhaust insulating tape might work to cut corrosion. Maybe.
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McMike
> 505Turbeaux
10/14/2014 at 12:54 |
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Yup. I have about 70k miles on a factory long block replacement.
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McMike
> Takuro Spirit
10/14/2014 at 12:54 |
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You would think so, right?
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505Turbeaux
> McMike
10/14/2014 at 12:57 |
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friend of mine is running one of the very last "Boston Bob" (RIP) 2.5's ever done. through a slushbox. Miss that guy though. Man could he build a motor that wouldn't quit
Big Bubba Ray
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/14/2014 at 12:59 |
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Cant some of those tapes hold in moisture and promote rust? Or am I thinking of exhaust wrap?
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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> Big Bubba Ray
10/14/2014 at 13:01 |
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I have no idea how well they seal. I just thought that anything might work to cut his road exposure, since he seems to be rusting outside in. If the tape is known for holding *in* the moisture, well, that's the opposite of helping.
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McMike
> 505Turbeaux
10/14/2014 at 13:03 |
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Sad about Bob. Daryl at AA Transaxle died earlier this year, too. He used to be THE GUY for these transmissions.
Vanistan seems to be the guy cranking out the WBX these days.
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505Turbeaux
> McMike
10/14/2014 at 13:07 |
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yeah I remember that name too. Man the people in the know are dying off. It is hard enough around here to get a good big block GM built the right way, much less a funky VW wasserboxer. Good to see someone filled in the gap there. The kids that interned with Bob just never got up to the level he was at before he passed.
Agrajag
> McMike
10/14/2014 at 14:22 |
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I've heard of people coating and even patching small holes in exhaust systems with this . I've yet to try it for that application.
