I need a new muffler.....1971, 1.7L, what are my options? Options

[potomacmidget]

Hi -

The Bursch exhaust on my 1971 1.7L is beyond repair at this point. I unbolted it and need to purchase a new unit. I am pretty open on replacements, meaning I don't have to replace it with another Bursch (of course would like to keep the price manageable but that is another topic...). With that said, minus the Bursch, the car is bone stock and so I would need a new system, the gaskets and the associated bolts as they are not in good shape (I am unsure of the bold size, any help there appreciated too). I did the measurements from a picture I found on the site and I definitely have the dimensions for the 1.7 L HX.

I read in another thread that the tailpipe on a vendor's unit was not compatible with the stock rear valence, so I guess I need to avoid that unit (Dansk?).

I know that 914rubber has a stainless steel system too - anyone have any experience wit that one? Any advice appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Best,
Reg

[wonkipop]

the dansk should go straight in the earlier 914.
its the later design single piece muffler without the smaller hot dog outlet pipe and the design superseded the earlier type and was intended as the replacement part from 74 on.

so the tailpipe should exit the hole in the earlier valence as far as i can work out.
maybe others know better, but the single piece muffler was the intended replacement part for all 1.7 914s after the 1.8 came out in 74.

i've got a 74 and sit in far off australia. even getting a dansk here is a pain in the arse by the time freight and customs and aus $ conversion happens. which forced me to make an interesting discovery.

the 914 muffler is just the kombi (bus) / 412 muffler upside down. all VW did was weld the exhaust inlet pipe flanges on upside down compared to a bus/412 muffler.

its interesting if you look around the VW parts retailers. the bus muffler by dansk goes for about half the $ of the 914 one. and as far as i can tell its the same thing.
if you are handy with a grinder and a welder you can buy the bus one and do a bit of cut and shut on the inlet flanges and you are in business. buy the tailpipe section on its own, its available as a separate part.

i don't have a dansk, i managed to find a stainless steel bus muffler here in aus 20 years ago and have modified it as above. should outlast me.


EDIT.
i can see how a dansk would screw up after looking up a early 4 with the deep rear valence. no way would it fit. 73/74 much further to left and edge of car on tailpipe.
interesting, if porsche thought the later muffler superseded they would have had to be fitting a later rear valence as well?

it might be pretty hard to find one of those early mufflers with the extra hot dog tail pipe section that turns out before the left hand end of main muffler - if you have an early valence. looks like that is what the tail pipe would have to do. which is kind of a geometric impossibility with later dansk type full width muffler and where inlet pipes from engine land. that early valence outlet is inboard of end of muffler!

i'm pretty sure its an early VW 411 muffler. maybe an NOS is a possibility if you searched around?

or get the dansk and get a later valence to go with it.