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]

@nathanxnathan .

yes the bus muffler will bolt straight up.
take a close read of my post.
but the result will be a right hand side exit.

thats how it exits on the bus. and on the 412. after they went to the single piece muffler in either 73 or 74. definitely 74 but could have also been earlier in 73. that single piece muffler is a different ball game to the earlier style with the hot dog tailpipe you have posted. (note also your rusty 914 muffler does a real tight turn out before the left hand end of muffler to make the hole in the early valence).

it will do your head in in a dyslexic way but you will see that i am correct about the later single part mufflers if you look very closely at my photos. i should know i have held both items in my hot little hands and worked it out.

it is actually fine and if you did not care about originality - the smart move would be to make a modded valence with a right hand side dent and forever after be able to bolt a bus muffler straight up.

your photo is also correct. the earlier 411 muffler that the early 914s had is pretty much identical. the difference is that hot dog section is shorter on the 914s and turns out sooner. 411s seemed to have two different tail pipes - one that shot out more or less straight towards outside of car on left hand side and one that turned out under the back over towards left. i think one sort went of variants because they had a tailgate. this might have been the extreme left side exit. and the other type went on the fastbacks and sedans. at that time 914s, 411s all had left hand exit tail pipes. then VW went to right hand side exit on their 412s and buses. but the 914 stayed left hand side.

the key to understanding this is remembering that the flanges at the end of the heat exchangers on all the cars, 914s, 411/412s and buses is all in the same orientation.
2 bolts down. i bolt up tapering upwards. thats why the late 914 muffler had to be made with the flanges 180 degrees to the others, so it could still do the lhs exit.

i really like your suggestion of picking up an ernst muffler. its a high quality item.
if it were me and i lived in the states its what i would do. then i would either mod my 914 valence for a right hand tailpipe or if i was super fussy mod the muffler like i did.

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if i was the OP and i didn't have any metal/welding skills and i had a early 914 that still had the snowplow valence on it i would buy the dansk and bite the bullet. the price difference is tolerable in the USA. and buy a late valence and just go with the whole late set up. its all a straight bolt on job. put the original valence away in a cupboard.

or as @vintagethunder suggests maybe there is a tight turn tailpipe that will get out through the earlier valence. it would want to be tight. i already have what i think is a relatively tight turn tailpipe to make it out on the 74 valence. but if that tailpipe is out there that could make the dansk work and you could keep the early valence.