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Warning - Sidewinder exhaust not always an easy fit
Camo - April 27th, 2011 at 08:01 PM

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 :fakesniff:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/levin4kevin/IMG_0719.jpg


Paulc1964au - April 27th, 2011 at 08:08 PM

Kev,

How does it look at the back of the beast?


cam070 - April 27th, 2011 at 09:12 PM

kev is this the A1 sidewinder?


Camo - April 27th, 2011 at 09:17 PM

No, and if anyone wants to know where I got it just PM me.

Kev


ian.mezz - April 27th, 2011 at 09:24 PM

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.


ian.mezz - April 27th, 2011 at 09:29 PM

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.


ancientbugger - April 27th, 2011 at 09:37 PM

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:mad:


waveman1500 - April 27th, 2011 at 09:37 PM

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.

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/waveman1500/Superbug/P1010527.jpg

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/waveman1500/Superbug/P1010526.jpg


reub - April 27th, 2011 at 09:54 PM

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.


68AutoBug - April 27th, 2011 at 10:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Camo
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 :fakesniff:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/levin4kevin/IMG_0719.jpg


[size=4]
Hi Kev

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

or

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

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





[/size]


STIDUB - April 27th, 2011 at 11:29 PM

be thankful its not like this one too...
http://www.surefloexhaust.com.au/vw_pictures/bug6.jpg
exhaust pipes running right next to the pushrod tubes seem ok to anyone else?
looks waaaaaayyy too cosy for my liking.


matberry - April 27th, 2011 at 11:39 PM

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

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo199/mattberry-photo/Marcus%202165%20bus%20engine/27032010001.jpg

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo199/mattberry-photo/Marcus%202165%20bus%20engine/29032010008.jpg


Bizarre - April 28th, 2011 at 07:43 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ian.mezz
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

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d170/blue74l/exhaust/103_2450.jpg


Camo - April 28th, 2011 at 08:24 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by reub
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 :lol:

Kev


Bizarre - April 28th, 2011 at 08:43 AM

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


ian.mezz - April 28th, 2011 at 12:56 PM

they do

Quote:
Originally posted by Camo
Quote:
Originally posted by reub

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

Kev


Camo - April 28th, 2011 at 02:26 PM

Come on Ian, you have to give me more information then that. Or are you just a tease :lol:

Quote:
Originally posted by ian.mezz
they do
Quote:
Originally posted by Camo
Quote:
Originally posted by reub

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

Kev



ian.mezz - April 28th, 2011 at 03:32 PM

http://www.kustombitz.com.au/c/247700/1/v-band-clamp-sets.html 


66brm - April 28th, 2011 at 06:42 PM

The true A1 systems seem to go on alright, this is the second one Ive fitted in the last 3 years with no problems http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae251/andrew_howman/009.jpg


cam070 - April 28th, 2011 at 08:09 PM

Doesn't look like that one has any heater boxes though........and no sign of any rear wheels :)


shtinkingroovin - April 28th, 2011 at 11:01 PM

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


66brm - April 29th, 2011 at 03:19 PM

Heat, who needs heat:crazy::lol: