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

[nathanxnathan]

Busdepot sells an Ernst muffler that is what the Dansk is trying to be. Basically it is an OEM 1.8 muffler. Side exit. The original 1.7 muffler was a Leistritz center exit that is a little smaller, but NLA.

Dansk and Walker (czechoslovakia), the feel/production quality pales compared to the real-deal Ernst.

This is a really nice piece imo
https://www.busdepot.com/071251053e

[wonkipop]

Busdepot sells an Ernst muffler that is what the Dansk is trying to be. Basically it is an OEM 1.8 muffler. Side exit. The original 1.7 muffler was a Leistritz center exit that is a little smaller, but NLA.

Dansk and Walker (czechoslovakia), the feel/production quality pales compared to the real-deal Ernst.

This is a really nice piece imo
https://www.busdepot.com/071251053e

yes and no.

a bus muffler is different.
but its only in the way the inlet flange plates are oriented.

here is the original factory 914 muffler that was once on my car.
its a 74 1.8



here is bus (or late 412) single piece german factory muffler.



notice how the VW application has the inlet flange plates welded at 180 degree rotation to a 914.

they used the same basic muffler but that was the difference.
this allowed the 914 to retain its lhs tailpipe location in these later single piece mufflers.
the bus and the type 4 exited on the rhs.

all the crazy dents and creases in the muffler are because it tucked up under the fan housing and allowed for the oil dipstick filler tube because they faced up in the bus.

they end up facing down in the 914 and make no sense because its not tucked up under a fan housing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

anyway you are right about one thing.
that ernst muffler is a much better buy.
and it will bolt straight on but you will end up with a rhs tailpipe and the muffler will end up closer to the heat shield under the trunk.
which is ok. a way around that is modify the valence and just go with that.

or you can do what i did which was modify the bus muffler and cut the inlet flanges off
and reweld them back on 180 degree rotated.

either way, the dansk bus muffler or the ernst bus muffler is a way better buy than the dansk 914 muffler because either dansk or the retailers are having 914 owners on.
its the same muffler apart from the flange orientation and they generally retail for double. thats bs - out and out bs on dansk's part.

if you are handy with a grinder and a welder grab the bus muffler.
make your own tailpipe or buy the dansk 914 tailpipe and use that.

i know because i have done it.
i have a modified bus muffler on my car.
a high quality stainless steel one i got hold of 20 years ago.
i'm not sure if it was made by an australian VW parts supplier or if it came from germany, but its a very high quality bus muffler i got hold of and modified.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[nathanxnathan]

a bus muffler is different.

I see what you're saying. I can definitely see how the first pic you posted that wouldn't work on a bus since the indents for the engine tin by the fan and the dipstick indent are below instead of above.

But are you sure the bus muffler won't bolt up and work on a 914?

I know the 1.7L muffler was the same muffler for both - almost sure anyway.

The rusty one here came off my 72 914 which has a snowplow valence. Both of these are the same. The tailpipe lined up with the hole.



Here is the nos muffler above on the engine of my 72 bus.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-21899-1671587553.1.jpg)

I'm thinking maybe the tailpipe of the side exit 1.8 bus muffler can't be made to work with the 914 valence? I know it's triangular/3 bolt, and could go 3 ways(?) I've run the Ernst before but I don't have one currently to check..