Which muffler?

chattathing · Post by **chattathing** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:24 pm

I have a '73 Thing. I blew the engine when I was in high school (I guess I didn't have time to check the oil.) Our local VW mech. replaced the engine with a beetle engine.

Twelve years later, one of the chrome tail pipes is hanging from the muffler due to excessive rust. The J-tubes are also quite rusted.

My question; What type muffler do I replace it with?
I'm not sure what year the engine is, but the engine number starts with AH.

Tom

ztnoo · Post by **ztnoo** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:44 am

Tom,
Since you have an AH Engine, my best guess is you have an engine with heater boxes on it.
If so, they aren't really doing you any good in a '73, because there are no heater tube holes in the rear body floor plate. The '73's had gas heaters installed so these holes weren't needed. If you have a fan shroud with heater air outlets and engine tin with air hoses installed, you are blowing hot air nowhere.

If I were you, I'd consider replacing this with a more stock appearing system such as Thinghunter has posted at the Samba Gallery.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_ ... ?cat_id=41
There are pics of a '74 style muffler and a '73 stock style mufflers posted there. Both exit through the round bumper holes.

Both systems tend to be very pricey. German Motor Works has examples:
http://germanmotorworks.com/catalog/def ... cPath=1_26

CIP sells a through the bumper system for a '74.

The Thing shop has '73 style two muffler systems, although for reasons unknown to me, you won't find them listed on their web site. I've even seen examples from in stainless steel from them. You'd have to call to inquire.

Hope this helps a little.
ztnoo

chattathing · Post by **chattathing** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 4:11 am

ztnoo,

I think you are right. It looks as though the mechanic replaced the heat boxes with j-tubes, since the heat boxes weren't needed. The current muffler has a "bulb looking" part that the heat exchangers connect to. Of course they are not connected to anything since there are no heat exchangers. The fan shroud does have heater air outlets, but have been capped off.

Tom

chattathing · Post by **chattathing** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 6:47 am

I'm not looking to make it original. I just want to replace the current one. I guess I need to ask "How can I find out what year my engine is?" and "Will any beetle engine work?"

tom

Post by **Marc** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:27 am

Basically any bug engine will work in a Thing, just the usual issues like whether it's 6V or 12V, clutch cover style, generator vs alternator need to be addressed.

AH 0000001 - AH 0005900 => 1972
AH 0005901 - AH 0114418 => 1973

chattathing · Post by **chattathing** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 10:14 am

It is a 12V, and I 'm pretty sure it has an alternator. Clutch cover style? (how can you tell).
The reason I ask all this, is that I would like to try replacing the muffler and J-tubes myself. I have never worked on an engine, and thought this might be a good first step/project.
Tom