Date:         Tue, 24 Sep 1996 18:37:46 -0500
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         dbax@mindspring.com (Donald Baxter)
Subject:      Exhaust systems and pipes

This was on the Toronto Star's website today--this place fabricates exhaust
pipes and seeing as I understand some replacement pipes for type IV engines
are unavailable, you might check this place out.

Donald Baxter


>Shop's exhaustive stock covers vehicles of any
>age 
>
>By Glen Konorowski
>
>Finding the right pipes and muffler for your vintage car or truck can be
>tough. It is important
>to get the right length, diameter and muffler to get the optimum performance
>from your
>vehicle.
>
>Well, finding that vintage exhaust has become a little easier, with the help
>of Ontario Vintage
>Exhaust. Formerly known as Shady Jakes, located just an hour northeast of
>Toronto in
>Brooklin.
>
>What makes all this quite different is that Shady Jakes, or should I say
>Ontario Vintage Exhaust,
>stocks literally thousands of original pipes and mufflers. 
>
>Owner Chris Wells told me that he has just about every domestic exhaust
>system in stock from
>about 1928 to 1975 in stock. As for the foreign systems, Wells says they
>have a pretty good
>selection dating back to the 1950s (most imports came after the WWII).
>
>Ontario Vintage Exhaust caters to those looking for the real thing in their
>restorations. Wells
>pointed out the original stampings on the mufflers authenticating their
>origin as factory
>original pieces.
>
>I had the good fortune to spend an afternoon with Wells checking out the
>stock of pipes and
>mufflers he had in his showroom. I was amazed to find good quality in the
>factory exhaust
>systems over the years. Wells pointed out that it was not uncommon in ``the
>god old days'' for
>exhaust systems to last a good 10 to 15 years.
>
>If Vintage doesn't have the exhaust system you are looking for, and there
>are a few that don't
>exist, they can usually be made for you. Vintage usually has templates that
>allow them to
>construct a proper system for your old vehicle. It's at this point, an
>appropriate muffler can be
>chosen (many mufflers will interchange).
>
>When making these systems, Vintage uses a 14-gauge aluminized pipe.
>According to Wells,
>the aluminized pipe works generally better than any other pipe, including
>stainless steel. Yes, I
>know some of you will debate the fact and claim stainless steel is better,
>but if not welded
>correctly it just won't hold up as well.
>
>For added corrosion protection, Vintage will add a protective coating to the
>outside of the
>complete exhaust system at no charge. This coating is, believe it or not,
>just barbecue grill
>paint, which Wells claims works best on all systems.
>
>Now, if you have an unusual car, and have the original exhaust, Vintage will
>bend an exact
>duplicate. With some engine specifications, the right muffler will also be
>picked for the vehicle.
>It goes without saying that Vintage also supplies resonators, as needed for
>your vehicle.
>
>Prices for exhaust pipes start at $65, on up to complete dual exhaust
>systems for V-8 engined
>vehicles at $350. For example, complete systems for six-cylinder cars and
>trucks is about $200.
>
>Ontario Vintage Exhaust ships pipes anywhere. They can reached at
>1-905-655-7473.
>
>While we are on the topic of parts for older vehicles, I would like to
>mention another great
>spot, Obsolete Automotive, of Point Edward (near Sarnia). 
>
>These people specialize in British sports car parts. They send out a monthly
>tabloid-sized
>newspaper called Sports Car Chronicle. This paper is crammed with sale parts
>and great
>information on repairing your British car.
>
>For the month of September they cover engine components for the MGB, as well as
>rebuilding of the engine, the parts you will need and the basics on how to
>do it all. The
>editorial is straightforward and honest, giving you the right information to
>solve most of your
>problems.
>
>Obsolete Auto tends to specialize in MG's, Triumph and Austin-Healeys with a
>hodge-podge
>of other British sports cars parts. To get a copy of the Chronicle, give
>them a call at
>1-800-265-7437 or 1-519-337-3232 for customer service. They also have a web
>site at
>www.sarnia.com/obsolete.