Exhaust for VW Beetle ground clearance question

Blue65 Officially Full-On Dubber

298 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 25 Apr 2010, 1:23 am

#774941

Hi. I've got a fairly steep driveway and my VW Beetle keeps on scrapping the standard tail pipe as I drive down.

Its made a little worse by the fact that I'm using 195/60 tyres not the standard tall ones.

I'm thinking of switching to a tuck away exhaust system because

1. my 1641cc engine with the standard exhaust is a little too loud.

2. the tuck aways may help improve the ground clearance issue.

Sometime back, I used a Single Quiet Pack -
Single Quiet Pack

But that one got damaged afterawhile because the exhaust came to a point in the middle - which due to the layout was the first thing that hit the bottom of my driveway and bore the brunt of it.

Its been awhile since I checked the VW catalogs - does anyone know whether they still sell them or have good comments?

______________________
Owner of a 1964 VW Beetle, 1641cc engine, etc..

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 25 Apr 2010, 3:36 am

#774942

Hi
Why are You using low profile tyres??

You would be revving Your engine way too much in top gear

165x80x15 diameter 645mm approx or even
205x70x15 diameter 668mm yokohama A Drive

185x60x15 michelins are only 602mm diameter
205x60x15 627mm diameter...

I have GENIE extractors with a thunderbird quiet muffler
took a bit of fiddling to fit the muffler....

but now its great and not too loud...

cheers

LEE

Blue65 wrote:Hi. I've got a fairly steep driveway and my VW Beetle keeps on scrapping the standard tail pipe as I drive down.

Its made a little worse by the fact that I'm using 195/60 tyres not the standard tall ones.

I'm thinking of switching to a tuck away exhaust system because

1. my 1641cc engine with the standard exhaust is a little too loud.

2. the tuck aways may help improve the ground clearance issue.

Sometime back, I used a Single Quiet Pack -
Single Quiet Pack

But that one got damaged afterawhile because the exhaust came to a point in the middle - which due to the layout was the first thing that hit the bottom of my driveway and bore the brunt of it.

Its been awhile since I checked the VW catalogs - does anyone know whether they still sell them or have good comments?

1 attachment · Log in to view

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Thinker Seriously Crusin Dubber

162 posts · joined Oct 2008 · 25 Apr 2010, 10:55 am

#774976

if you want to make it a little less loud a hide-a-way wont help.

i put a stainless hide-a-way on after running a stocker with tail pipes which the inside had rusted out of and its a little louder. its a sweet note and sounds great on high rpm gear change.

as for ground clearance the muffler pipe that bolts to header sits about 3 to 4 inches lower than a stocker but not all the way out the back. i still scrape on nasty speed humps. i am running stock hight on 195*75*R14.

1970 bug /1500 stock as a rock.
1976 standard bug ready to be modified 😁😁😁😁😁

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 25 Apr 2010, 11:11 am

#774980

if your scraping with a stock muffler your definately gonna scrape with any aftermarket system cos the collectors always hang as low ifnot lower than a stock peashooter

the only exception is the euro twin tip is higher than a stock muffler
but whilst they have a nice deep note theyre obnoxuosly loud

if you get one go ceramic coated or stainless, the metal distengrate in 5 mins

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 25 Apr 2010, 11:33 am

#774982

tip #1 - Don't buy an empi exhaust.... (or any other empi product really...)

STIDUB Over it.

1,497 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 25 Apr 2010, 3:31 pm

#775012

latest hot vws has an ad in it specifically for super low bugs & exhaust, ill find the link soon...

Volkswagen Drivers Club of Queensland - member 🙂

STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress

Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.

The above are personal views, no more, no less

STIDUB Over it.

1,497 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 25 Apr 2010, 3:39 pm

#775017

www.gdownusa.com 👍

Volkswagen Drivers Club of Queensland - member 🙂

STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress

Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.

The above are personal views, no more, no less

cam070 Custom Title Time!

1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 · 26 Apr 2010, 1:06 am

#775132

68AutoBug wrote:I have GENIE extractors with a thunderbird quiet muffler
took a bit of fiddling to fit the muffler....

but now its great and not too loud...

cheers

LEE

Lee is this system still available?
I had a set on my 69 and it was great, but have not been able to locate them anymore.

Cheers Cam

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 26 Apr 2010, 8:52 am

#775147

Hi

I cant see why they attach exhaust hangers like the godownusa system to the chassis, I always attach my exhaust hangers to the motor, that way it all rocks in the same motion.

I have some cheap stainless header on Davids car, the flange is really low, I have a sacrificial metal plate on it, we have the mother of all steep driveways, STIdub will confirm.

I would have thought that the side winder style headers would have better clearance.

Steve

beetleboyjeff Custom Title Time!

1,790 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 26 Apr 2010, 9:33 am

#775158

I have a towbar (mainly for towing trailers) which makes a great skidplate and saves the exhaust from a lot of damage. I have had plates welded to the bottom of the towbar rails about 3 times now as they wear out. lol

From your ole' mate Jeff

STIDUB Over it.

1,497 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 26 Apr 2010, 9:57 am

#775161

most definately steve, your driveway should of pushed you into baja style not GL 😀 any exhaust you put on his bug should be on the endangered species list, though im suprised it hasnt got the buggy style hotdog system with canons, afterall it is sydney hehe

Volkswagen Drivers Club of Queensland - member 🙂

STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress

Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.

The above are personal views, no more, no less

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 26 Apr 2010, 10:32 am

#775167

I'm on the wrong side of the Gazza strip (Canterbury Road) for cannons

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 26 Apr 2010, 10:44 am

#775169

I found my sidewinder is excellent for ground clearance 😎

trickysimon 100km/h is only 9 seconds away

1,473 posts · joined Dec 2007 · 26 Apr 2010, 11:42 am

#775172

I still scrape the shit out of my sidewinder, but then again, my rear might be too low..

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 26 Apr 2010, 2:59 pm

#775194

or mine is toooooo high !!

Blue65 Officially Full-On Dubber

298 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 29 Apr 2010, 12:20 am

#775607

68AutoBug wrote:Hi
Why are You using low profile tyres??

You would be revving Your engine way too much in top gear

165x80x15 diameter 645mm approx or even
205x70x15 diameter 668mm yokohama A Drive

185x60x15 michelins are only 602mm diameter
205x60x15 627mm diameter...

I guess that would explain why the Beetle's engine howls at 60mph and 70mph.

______________________
Owner of a 1964 VW Beetle, 1641cc engine, etc..

Ian Bugden AKA - Bugs

248 posts · joined May 2003 · 3 May 2010, 10:53 am

#776298

Craig, does the sidewinder still leave room for your kafer bar?

A good friend will come and bail you out of jail.....
But a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "Damm that was fun!!!"