New Pipes

Here's the "temporary" exhaust, it sounds nnniiiiicccce. While you're reading this I'll be out doing a little shakedown cruise and seeing where to go with the suspension/handling. Spring has Sprung!

Cool! I just found this one too:

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C23%2D35171S

It's stainless steel, German and it says it fits the 356 replicas. Looks a little like a 36 hp VW or 356 exhaust system.

The world is in perfect harmony again. I am now reunited with my beloved car and all is well. It runs like a top, I can't believe the difference in performance. The old engine had a leak in the #3 and now that everything is nice nice I can actually get a chirp off the line without even getting on it, sweet. The sway bar is going back on and we'll adjust the toe out about 1/16th to get rid of the understeer, with the front bar off I almost swapped ends taking my daily "spirited" drive on one of my favorite roads. Other than that a valve adjustment and maybe a carb rebuild in the next week or so and I should be ready to go.


With the engine all tidy now I am switching my focus toward the handling. I am considering having some wheels made with more offset so I can get a little more meat on the road. I have IRS so I was looking for input on how to get the most out of a VW pan when it comes to handling. I know this has been discussed and I've done the searches and reading, I was looking to keep the "extensive" solutions out of it and looking for simple stiffening and handling solutions - ideas and thoughts are always appreciated - now, out for more cruising!

This is an often cited article:

http://www.aircooled.net/gnrlsite/resource/articles/handling.htm

Hey mickey, check out my new set-up! Ah yes Spring time and our cars are READY!
Recardo... I book marked that suspension article for later study. Thanks!

That's pretty cool Ernie but the guy below's got you beat!

And then there's his distant cousin "Pipezilla" from Japan. Now they obviously know pipes over there!

Ernie, I need details, that is the direction I'm looking to go. Is it custom or did you buy it somewhere?

Ricardo,
Thanks for the info. As it turns out I read that article, it's what got me going on setting my speedster up in the first place. I think the only setback is he's setting up bugs and we're setting up speedsters. I don't know how much difference there is between the two but I took alot of that info as a good starting point. Thanks again.

Brian - love that "big can" pipe! Now who is going to take one of those Tri-Mil dune buggy headers, put it on a speedster, and run the exhaust pipe straight up through the rear deck lid? Lemma see now . . . I think that would fit right in at the Good Guys show here next weekend!

Looks great. How far out does it stick? Do you have more pictures?

Thanks Lambros! It really sounds great too! I was out riding around all day, it was almost 70 degrees! It comes just to the edge of the rear clip. I'll take a few more shots from the side tomorrow, weather permitting.

I can't stop watching that Shell Ferrari Commercial!

Thanks,I may change mine too so I want to see what options are out there.I am glad you liked the commercial!!

mickey.....
It's a 1 5/8' merged unit from A-1 exhaust in So Cal. to compliment my new CB Performance stroker motor. I was looking for a "Porsche style" tip and found nothing but "Porsche style" price tags until I stumbled into an Auto Zone store. The tip is heavey gage stainless steel of pretty high quality for only 27 bucks.
Below are photos that Tiger at A-1 sent me before I ordered it.

Good stuff, Mickey!

Thanks Ernie.

Lambros, here's a few more pics of the exhaust. Give it a shot - for $70 what could go wrong?

Great job!!! I will put my new engine in the car this weekend so I can drive it a bit,and then look for a new one. I will wait until I see your car at Carlisle and hear the sound of it.
Thanks for the pictures.

Mickey,

What kind of wheels do you have on your car?

Hey Bruce,
They are just good ol fashion VW wheels I got at the junkyard, sanded, primed, and spray painted to match the car. I did it that way to see if I liked the look first and now that I LOVE the look I'll get new wheels and have them powder-coated. I just haven't committed to the type wheel, suspension set up, etc.... yet.

Hey Ernie do you have the contact info for the palce you had your exhaust done. I might be looking into something similar.

D

Darren -

The shop is called A-1 Performance Exhaust. Its at 721 S. Main in Santa Ana. The Number is (714)836-7201 and ask for Tiger (owner). Very cool guy with a neat & professional shop. Ernie turned me onto this place and I'm stoked with the results (same system as Ernie). It's a little pricey but worth the investment.

Peace - Out!

Darren, I had a shop in Downey do my system. He was very reasonable and it sounds awesome. Every part of the header system sit up tight, nothing hangs below the engine. Sorry about the dirty engine, but I do drive my speedy all the time. UGLY, but strong.

Gabe

Mickey,

Where did you get your temp exhaust?

Dave

Mid America Motorworks I think. It was about $70. I tried the Tri Mill and it wouldn't fit under the rear apron so I went to this one and it fit fine. Depending on how low your rear apron is you may have to bend it down a tiny bit which is no problem (do it after you mount it). It's been on the car for about a year and it's held up pretty well. I got it because I knew at some point I was going to get another engine but I wouldn't look for it as a long-term option, unless you just keep putting new ones on ever couple years.

Mickey,
I installed the tri mill today and trimmed out the rear apron a little. It was pretty easy, just bolted it in and scribed around the chrome pipes with a sharpie to get good curve. Then used a sawsall and sanded it smooth. Easy.
You mentioned bending it down a little after bolting it in? I could adjust one side a little to ballance the pipes. Do I heat it up or just crank on it?

Cheers
Dave

Heat it up with a torch, it's easier to bend that way.

I believe the ones VS sells are already "massaged" to fit the Speedster; at least the ones from VS; I guess apron clearance could vary depending on body manufacturer.

Yes this was much lower than anything else. I bought and returned two exhaust systems and checked out a few others and the VS tri-mill was the best.
My IM (pan based) must have a little deeper back apron so I had to scribe a compound curve and trim it out. Out came the sawsall and 60 grit sandpaper wrapped around the round cardboard chrome tip protectors (they were very handy for the scribing process to) took about 20 mins tops and it looks fine, actually tucks the dual pipes higher anyway. I had to trim about an inch at the largest portion of the curved cut.

Cheers
Dave

She sounds tough and tucks nicely....

How quiet is that Sebring exhaust? It looks great, and the Sebring stuff is usually excellent quality.

Justin -

That set-up looks pretty dang cool! Now you have the additional pleasure of listening to the sweet note of your exhaust as you're cruising in the Speedy!

Peace - Out!

Thanks for the comps guys. The note is pretty throaty, especially for a 1776cc motor. I'll shoot a video and record the sound this weekend.

I just priced up the Sebring exhaust in the UK, and it comes in at $771.

A bit on the expensive side, especially since they're made in Austria.