Replacing Exhaust Pipes and Bumper Bars - Easy to do??

riles Learner Dubber

8 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 8 Mar 2009, 3:53 pm

#699224

Hi There
Just bought a '69 Beetle and I'm looking at swapping over the bumpers and the exhaust pipes/tips. Is this an easy thing to do? Anything I should know before proceeding? I just want to replace the current ones with the same but better condition parts.

It looks with the exhaust pipes that I just loosen off the clamp on each one. Will they just pull off then?

Cheers

eraser Fahrvergnugen

970 posts · joined Mar 2005 · 8 Mar 2009, 4:22 pm

#699229

yeppas loosen the clams and pipes come off, and same with the bumpers loosed the screws and off they come.

pod i`ve got to finish this thing one day

4,980 posts · joined Dec 2003 · 8 Mar 2009, 4:25 pm

#699230

depending how long pipes have been on ,as to how easy they come off,last lot i removed i used a pipe wrench to turn them round to get them off as it didnt matter what happened to them🙂

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riles Learner Dubber

8 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 8 Mar 2009, 4:31 pm

#699232

cool.. thanks heaps for that. will get some new pipes and will give it a shot.

helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body

7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 8 Mar 2009, 4:52 pm

#699237

I recommend getting the best quality pipes you can.

Cheap Brazilian ones can rust real quick and sound bad. They are the mufflers.

I got stainless steel German made ones, I dont remember the brand, but they were $70 the pair, and 5 years later I have never had to touch them they look shiny new, and sound nice, not a silly sound.

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riles Learner Dubber

8 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 12 Mar 2009, 6:51 pm

#700366

thanks heaps for the advice... my new tips have arrived and i attempted to take one of the old ones off and it's not budging. any bright ideas? where can i get hold of a pipe wrench? is that the best way to go about it?

cheers 😎

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 12 Mar 2009, 6:59 pm

#700368

Pipe wrench or vice grips and a little heat works wonders.

helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body

7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 12 Mar 2009, 7:12 pm

#700376

Sometimes they rust weld themselves in, and heat from an oxy torch is needed to break the rust seal.

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riles Learner Dubber

8 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 12 Mar 2009, 7:32 pm

#700384

awesome. if i do go the pipe wrench route, is there anything that can get damaged at internal end of the pipes if i'm wrenching and ripping the bastard around?

also, how much heat are we talking? after i've driven it they're hot... is that the type of temp we're talking or does it need to be extreme heat?

cheers

greedy53 Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,062 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 12 Mar 2009, 7:45 pm

#700393

a old way was to run the engine until it hot than drop a bit of water on the tight bits as you turn with a pip wrench failing that use a can of wd40 over a week aand spray every time you sstop

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helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body

7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 12 Mar 2009, 8:13 pm

#700405

It sometimes needs to be hotter than normal exhaust heat. Sometimes glowing red hot on the outside part of the muffler so it will expand. You could damage the main muffler if you pipe wrench them until it twists that too. If it is old, thin, cheap or badly rusted it can damage a lot easier.

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Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 12 Mar 2009, 8:19 pm

#700409

also have a look on the flange where the pipes go in
Sometimes they get "peened" (the outer skin hit with a centre punch so as to "pimple" the outer steel onto the inner tube) to stop them comming loose

If this is the case a drill may be required to drill out the punch mark

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68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 12 Mar 2009, 10:09 pm

#700452

helbus wrote:It sometimes needs to be hotter than normal exhaust heat. Sometimes glowing red hot on the outside part of the muffler so it will expand. You could damage the main muffler if you pipe wrench them until it twists that too. If it is old, thin, cheap or badly rusted it can damage a lot easier.

Yes, You need to be careful, as if they are rusted to the muffler.. You can twist the pipes off the muffler very easily
as most mufflers are rusted...
unless painted with heatproof paint...
then You will end up needing a new muffler..
and because they are rusted so badly, they cannot be welded back on...

If the tail pipes are very rusted and have holes in them
a pipe wrench shouldn't hurt, as the muffler pipes should twist apart...

Lee

I have straight thru pipes which are rather noisey..
I also use a pair of tapered muffled pipes...

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68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 12 Mar 2009, 10:40 pm

#700462

Bumper bars are easy to take off...

a bit fiddly to put back on
a lot easier with a helper... lol

but i do most things by Myself...

LEE

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riles Learner Dubber

8 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 13 Mar 2009, 5:43 am

#700474

thanks heaps for that. they shouldn't be too rusted if the rest of the car is any indication. both pipes have surface rust. i might try to give them a gentle nudge with a pipe wrench and then if i have no luck i might leave it for someone who know what they're doing.

cheers

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 13 Mar 2009, 5:53 am

#700475

when you fit the new ex pipes tips DONT push them in too far

get a bit of wire and bend a hook on end to measure the depth of the hole
then mark on the tail pipe with a felt pen dont fit it in past this point

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

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