Any thoughts on the best exhaust system for a 2.0l Kombi ? I just removed the stocker and found the horrible quietening system they use just downstream of the heat exchangers ! Now I know why they're so quiet, but how do they breath at all. No wonder they run so hot !

The best Kombi exhaust is a stock one. They are compact, tough, quiet, long-lasting, out of the way and fit the characteristics of the engine.

Kombi engines are strong, low-revving commercial vehicle engines. They are not designed to rev; stock 2-litre engines produce their maximum torque of 104 ft lbs at 2800 rpm and their maximum power of 70 bhp at 4200 rpm. Free-flowing exhausts give little or no benefit for an otherwise stock motor.

And a stock exhaust will bolt straight on with no problems - you won't have to fart around all weekend trying to make aftermarket flanges line up.

Running hot? Mine doesn't...

G'day & welcome :bounce

Is this in a bay or vanagon?

My Vanagon just runs a noce stock stailess steel full width muffler.

Do you want to keep ypur heater boxes?

I agree with Phil,
ours has a large diameter stainless steel "Dump"pipe bolted on the end of the muffler, instead of the normal little tailpipe, taking full advantage of the large diameter exit from the muffler, I think it makes a bit of difference, VW mufflers feel hot because the exhaust travels almost no distance from the engine & when you are leaning over the engine opening the heat is coming straight up on you

Sorry yes, when I said a stock exhaust is best, I meant a VW exhaust (genuine but expensive).

There are plenty of stock-style exhausts out there made by aftermarket companies. Brazillian ones aren't going to be as good; their innards are going to be cheaper and not as well made as the genuine VW item and I bet their steel is thinner too.

When I bought my Kombi 18 months ago, its exhaust was a stock design one made in South Africa! I cleaned it up and it was fine with new coat of pot--belly black paint. I only had to remake the little curvy tailpipe and flange.

Our '76 bus caught fire at the top of the pass coming east from Kangaroo Valley a couple of summers ago, towing a boat trailer etc etc. The heat from the muffler ignited the rubber engine surround seal. In the subsequent rebuild I replaced the stock pipe with a Thunderbird (quiet)which didn't go any good, so I replaced the Thunderbird muffler with a hotdog. It then went much better, particularly at cruising-type revs, and the rear of the engine bay stayed much cooler.
Now I'm doing some work on a dual-cab so I was thinking of doing something similar again. Has anyone used the Empi pipes ?

I tried both,
A stock german nickel coated muffler, and a thunderbird quiet muffler,
The stock muffler went much better, up hills it was very noticeable, and sounded much better.
Its still going after 15 years.
A Thunderbird wont do that!!!

I think some people get more noise mixed up with more power.

Would also agree with the above. Very disappointed with the thunderbird. Had to replace the muffler with a twin baffled hotdog and it's too bloody noisey. Am looking for something else. (with my conversion - 2ltr into a '68 - I cannot fit the standard VW system)

what about cause mopst tailpipes go (well the ones i have) can ya make up a stianless pipe and still get the effectiveness of a standard?
cheers
rhys

If you think that a hot dog extractors system is poor
then dont ever look at a twin cannons on a bus.
Bought a bus with cannons on - was Extremely LOUD
- had no bottom end torque.
-
I changed to standard and it went better.
I built my own narrow tuned length extractors and it possible went better
but not much, certainly not worth the weeks of work.

I've had the thunderbird extractors on my '76 with a variety of mufflers with varying degrees of success. The only real problem I had was that the mufflers hung too low and I kept knocking them off - not a problem with the standard muffler.

If the heat of the muffler is setting the rubber seal on fire, check that the heat shield above the muffler is fitted. It bolts to the underside of the engine tinware below the pulley. The stock muffler on my '75 has given me no trouble whatsoever. :thumb