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]

@wonkipop Yeah nathansnathan was registered through an email address at my old domain, and when I switched the url a few years ago, I lost access. I emailed sirandy about it, trying to get access, but never got a response. Funny I forgot about that thread entirely..

There really are quite a lot of different muffler options historically at least. It does seem weird that they'd have just switched the orientation of the mounting flanges and put the indents at the bottom but maybe so.

I was looking at the JP group Dansk site. It's pretty impressive what they offer.
Here's I think the one AA offers
https://www.jpgroupclassic.com/product/?id=...&cmodel=914

The one in the thread you link looks to be the same muffler, but he has a different tailpipe that isn't working.

This one, The "sport" is hard to find in stock except at european sites
https://www.jpgroupclassic.com/product/?id=...&cmodel=914

Here's an option that looks really cool, gotta get it fromn Europe also, it's stainless steel though
https://www.typ4shop.de/Abgasanlagen/Auspuf...#horizontalTab2

[wonkipop]

@wonkipop Yeah nathansnathan was registered through an email address at my old domain, and when I switched the url a few years ago, I lost access. I emailed sirandy about it, trying to get access, but never got a response. Funny I forgot about that thread entirely..

There really are quite a lot of different muffler options historically at least. It does seem weird that they'd have just switched the orientation of the mounting flanges and put the indents at the bottom but maybe so.

I was looking at the JP group Dansk site. It's pretty impressive what they offer.
Here's I think the one AA offers
https://www.jpgroupclassic.com/product/?id=...&cmodel=914

The one in the thread you link looks to be the same muffler, but he has a different tailpipe that isn't working.

This one, The "sport" is hard to find in stock except at european sites
https://www.jpgroupclassic.com/product/?id=...&cmodel=914

Here's an option that looks really cool, gotta get it fromn Europe also, it's stainless steel though
https://www.typ4shop.de/Abgasanlagen/Auspuf...#horizontalTab2

yeah i shouldn't think too hard about this stuff. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

one of the interesting things is that the lhs single muffler with dents on top, probably originally for 412 would mount up slightly higher when you consider the geometry.
probably meaning that none of the muffler is visible below the shorter later valence.

with mine the bottom bit of the muffler is visible. its to do with the geometry of the inlets. if you look at photos you can see this.

its kind of interesting. that muffler that was on mine was obviously some kind of genuine part and its an alternative to the other type.

anyway. VW? what can you say.

i guess my only point is if as you say you can find a high quality OEM german made muffler lying around you can do as i suggest which would mimmick at least one of the variants that was around in the late 70s/early 80s and get a pretty good muffler set up on your car that might be better than a dansk.

i did read that these big single chamber mufflers that came in 73/74 offer better flow than the smaller earlier mufflers that had the seperate hot dog tail pipe. probably made the engines run just that slight bit cooler. might have even been offsets to the emissions laws that were retarding ignition at idle and cruise that do make the engine run hotter, so it might have helped with that. there had to be a reason they altered the exhausts, and being germans it would be a rational engineering reason.