Type 3 Exhaust Stuff

We had to replace the exhaust on the fastback a while ago, and along the way there were a few problems.

The first problem was that the old silencer was an aftermarket non OE-style and the rather higher quality replacement was different. On the old one the rear heat exchangers (RHEs) were part of the silencer; and what's more, the wrong shape. When I ordered the new one from Status VW, I didn't know about these RHEs, so didn't realise what I had ordered would not fit on its own. Luckily for me, I had two very servicable RHEs which came with our parts car. Here is an annotated photo of the various parts.


The old exhaust	The new exhaust (with old RHEs)

The next problem was joining the RHEs to the new silencer. Normally there would be a fitting kit but at the time none were available. The kit includes crushable gaskets which go between the mating surfaces of the silencer and the RHSs. So I tried my FLAPS, and several exhaust fitting centres before arriving at the local trade wholesalers. There I found the mythical "very helpful bloke" who dug out loads of old catalogues and tried to find a Type 3 parts list. He couldn't so in the end we went for a stock part which measured up about right. In the photo you can see the part number on the plastic wrapper so you can go and order one yourself: Bosal 256-055.

Heat Exchanger Gasket

All you need to do is find a gasket which is has either the outside diameter (OD) or the inside diameter (ID) correct. They are made of a tightly wound spiral sandwich of card and metal foil, so you can unwind the material to change the size. If the OD is correct, unwind from the inside until the ID is right. And vice-versa.

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