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Warning - Sidewinder exhaust not always an easy fit

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Camo Custom Title Time!

1,936 posts · joined Oct 2007 ·

#838057
Just as a bit of a warning to those thinking of buying a sidewinder exhaust, there may be some fitment issues.

First issue was that the flange on the muffler was welded at an angle not suitable to my engine fitment (2180) and I had to cut a slot and open up the angle and then have Westi weld it up.

Now that I have fitted the muffler to the car, it is still tight along my inner guard area but my wheels being wide hit the muffler. I may have to go back to Westi and see if he can modify the muffler or make me a new design muffler.

3rd problem - I have rear disc brakes with handbrake fitted on the rear and the flexible line of the caliper is also just touching the muffler (not good).

Now with all this said, different brand may be a straight bolt on fit but I just wanted to let you also know that you may have fitment problems.

Kev

P.S. Excuse the dust on the muffler, I have had it sitting here a while 🥲

I thought rebuilding a VW would be cheap - Shit I was wrong, just don't let the wife know !!!!

Click here for my (slowy) modded 1961 Beetle build.

cam070 Custom Title Time!

1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 ·

#838082
kev is this the A1 sidewinder?

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·

#838089
on roses oval we fitted the muffler laying flat just below RHS tappet cover & on the 70 bug we fitted a skinny muffler between the wheel and inner guard.
And don't worry about not being able to see the stainless steel muffler & pipes because if you drive the car the exhaust pipes go dull brown.
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·

#838094
your better off getting a custom made exhaust and muffler that comes off easy to check the tappets etc and get it ceramic coated and it wont go brown and look shitty.
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

ancientbugger Custom Title Time!

1,986 posts · joined Mar 2004 ·

#838098
Although I'm never likely to get one this is the sort of info that is needed. My son is finding out the hard way that whenever you change something it can snowball into a myriad of other problems that need sorting out, we're changing the rear suspension and fitting discs and the problems encountered (and one by one sorted out!) are too many to list😠

waveman1500 Also rides a Honda

1,346 posts · joined Dec 2009 ·

#838099
I recently got a sidewinder from Wolfsburg Automotive and I'm pretty happy with it. None of the flanges are welded, which means that you're guaranteed to be able to align it, but it does make it a bit more troublesome for leaks as the sealing area is quite small. I had a bit of trouble getting mine to fit but it went on eventually and clears everything. The supplied steel bar to hang the muffler from the #1 cylinder pipe doesn't fit and is useless, but the bloke selling it warned me of that before buying. I replaced it with some sections of used timing belt.



1972 VW S-Bug - For Sale!
1968-onwards Beetle panels and glass for sale

reub VWRX is gone...

2,054 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#838109
Been there 🙂 - is also a challenge if you have drain backs from your heads. Yours looks like a different design to any I've seen as the muffler usually lays flat.

Also, heat shield to the valance may be worth considering with your flash paint job. I ended up with a lot of heat behind the valance on my 58 and now have to repaint it...
You can buy good sized sheets of modern honeycomb aluminium exhaust shield on ebay.
Reub

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#838127
Camo wrote:Just as a bit of a warning to those thinking of buying a sidewinder exhaust, there may be some fitment issues.

First issue was that the flange on the muffler was welded at an angle not suitable to my engine fitment (2180) and I had to cut a slot and open up the angle and then have Westi weld it up.

Now that I have fitted the muffler to the car, it is still tight along my inner guard area but my wheels being wide hit the muffler. I may have to go back to Westi and see if he can modify the muffler or make me a new design muffler.

3rd problem - I have rear disc brakes with handbrake fitted on the rear and the flexible line of the caliper is also just touching the muffler (not good).

Now with all this said, different brand may be a straight bolt on fit but I just wanted to let you also know that you may have fitment problems.

Kev

P.S. Excuse the dust on the muffler, I have had it sitting here a while 🥲

Hi Kev

You just need widened rear guards...
and different wheel offsets..

or

165 tyres and rims and drum brakes... [back to standard] 😎

and I thought I had muffler problems with the standard VW muffler Kev... [and had it on & off probably 10 times] as
the heatriser flanges on VW mufflers never ever line up properly
and they are short and cannot be bent easily...

I have PVE [yoga mats] all around My engine and above the gearbox and two layers on the rear valance...
also under the rear of the guards to stop stone chips or dents.

cheers

Lee





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

STIDUB Over it.

1,497 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#838142
be thankful its not like this one too...

exhaust pipes running right next to the pushrod tubes seem ok to anyone else?
looks waaaaaayyy too cosy for my liking.
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

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#838144
Good on ya STi, I shield the exhaust from the pushrod tubes to keep the heat transfer to a minimum.......

this is also a Sidewinder



Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#838177
ian.mezz wrote:your better off getting a custom made exhaust and muffler that comes off easy to check the tappets etc and get it ceramic coated and it wont go brown and look shitty.
Exactly what I did

A thinner muffler may be the go

Mine is quite thin - it is a custom made one.
We "slowly" fitted and welded the thing together over a couple of weeks and got it all in the best position

I am running 225 on the back and reckon there is a good 50mm between tyre and muffler

Futue te ipsum!!!

Camo Custom Title Time!

1,936 posts · joined Oct 2007 ·

#838180
reub wrote:Yours looks like a different design to any I've seen as the muffler usually lays flat.
Due to my car having heater boxes, is the reason the muffler sits up as pictured. If I had J pipes it would be sitting flat.

Barry, as you said I will probably be better off getting one made up to suit my car. The only thing is if its a smaller muffler, will be the level of sound (db) as its loud even with this muffler and I don't want to much back pressure.

Ian, thanks. I hadn't even thought about getting the rocker cover off. Wonder if anyone makes a quick release muffler clamp 😂

Kev
I thought rebuilding a VW would be cheap - Shit I was wrong, just don't let the wife know !!!!

Click here for my (slowy) modded 1961 Beetle build.

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#838183
Kev

I think one of the main points is if it has a downturned outlet
This points the sound to the ground

As for the actual muffler, I think it has more to do with the quality and density of the fill rather than the size of the actual muffler
All I know is the one I have is pretty quiet.
Some bloke up at Bathurst made it
Futue te ipsum!!!

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·

#838205
they do
Camo wrote:
reub wrote:Ian, thanks. I hadn't even thought about getting the rocker cover off. Wonder if anyone makes a quick release muffler clamp 😂

Kev
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

Camo Custom Title Time!

1,936 posts · joined Oct 2007 ·

#838234
Come on Ian, you have to give me more information then that. Or are you just a tease 😂
ian.mezz wrote:they do
Camo wrote:
reub wrote:Ian, thanks. I hadn't even thought about getting the rocker cover off. Wonder if anyone makes a quick release muffler clamp 😂

Kev
I thought rebuilding a VW would be cheap - Shit I was wrong, just don't let the wife know !!!!

Click here for my (slowy) modded 1961 Beetle build.

66brm Seriously Crusin Dubber

140 posts · joined Nov 2009 ·

#838268
The true A1 systems seem to go on alright, this is the second one Ive fitted in the last 3 years with no problems

cam070 Custom Title Time!

1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 ·

#838304
Doesn't look like that one has any heater boxes though........and no sign of any rear wheels 🙂

shtinkingroovin Learner Dubber

6 posts · joined Apr 2011 ·

#838360
yep definately no wheels....but still....nice muff

66brm Seriously Crusin Dubber

140 posts · joined Nov 2009 ·

#838443
Heat, who needs heat🤪😂