My exhaust situation is all over the place. The original stock AH engine’s exhaust needs to be blasted, repaired, and then ceramic power-coated but I’m in no hurry to spent money on that. I bought a low-cost Dansk replacement to have on hand if needed, as well as a cheap EMPI peashooter exhaust to have around if needed. I figured the EMPI one would go on the AH rebuild or the AR rebuild. Both engines are basically stock-ish to some degree, but the AR will definitely be just a single 34 Pict-3 carb setup with 85mm pistons and stock heads. I see no reason to invest in any better exhausts for these engines, as my goal with them is purely to hopefully build solid daily driver engines that meets or slightly exceeds the original 1600s with maybe the restored original AH exhaust put back on.
On my future “higher performance” build, I’ve been going down several paths but that is years off so it is all fantasy stuff at the moment. (We all can dream!)
I hate loud and roaring andd it is totally inappropriate for where I live anyway. (I really dislike the sound of stingers too.)
My criteria for the future exhaust are:
- Must use the original exhaust outlets in the rear apron (I just have to have my perfect Beetle symmetry back there)
- Allow for the engine to
- breathe better with higher HP engines
- Has to maintain some of the fweem!!!
- Be as hidden as possible
CSP Exhausts
While it is rather on the expensive side in the $750 range, the CSP Super-Competition Exhaust-System is really nice and I really like the sound. It hides very well and fits in with the stock rear aprons. These days, you basically need to spend money if you want quality aftermarket parts. And these are German too boot! What’s nice is that these also can be ordered with full heat exchangers. While these initial engines I’m building are all going to be basic j-piped with no heat capability, the engines that will be swappable in the final restored 72 will definitely have heat regardless of if I drive it in colder weather or not.
Vintage Speed
I like a lot of the Vintage Speed exhausts as well, and they are far lower cost than the CSP ones, but they are also of excellent quality, probably being the best aftermarket exhausts for a VW that don’t lose the original appearance.
I haven’t talked to anyone who runs one yet, and am basing everything off of what I read or see in videos. The quality coming out of Taiwan here appears to be exceptional in the reviews I’ve read, and Vintage Speed seems to really be developing their social media/video output lately. Let’s face it, it really helps to make a decision on a $400+ exhaust system when you can hear it attached to a variety of engines and run at different RPMs.
But Still…
I must admit though… there’s a certain odd charm to the 74’s AH original…