VAG conspiracy theories.

[jdbubb at verizon.net (Dan Bubb)]

As everybody knows my 84 turbo project is down for the count. It has no time 
for conspiracies cause it's totally non-functional and barely breathing at 
this point.
The Audi and the 16V on the other hand have had great plans.
Replaced the home-brewed Borla (that went on to the nephew's turbo rocco) on 
the 16V with a brand new Dynomax. Next thing I know it gets all pissy and 
the downpipe is cracked where I have to take it off to weld it.
Meanwhile the Audi is looking around at my dead car park, including an 81 
customer car that is totally hogging the garage, and decides to get in on 
the act and craps a front wheel bearing.
What fun!
Well, the customer car was finally completed (at least my part) on Tuesday.
The Audi got a thorough inspection on Thursday and even though you can't 
hear the wheel bearing by ear with all four wheels up in the air and 
spinning, if you use my super secret listening device (peizo crystal 
w/amplifier) attached to the hub carrier the sound is pretty pronounced. New 
bearing on the way.
Then it was the 16V's turn. Due to the extremely irritating slip fit joint 
right after the cat on the 16V that cannot be pulled apart for love nor 
money there is no way to remove the exhaust system without dropping the rear 
axle. What a pain in the ass! (Where is Anson anymore when you need somebody 
to yell "Fuck!"?)
Anyway, pictures of my solution to eliminate future irritation are here:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a95/jdbubb/87%2016V/DSC03309_small.jpg
and here:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a95/jdbubb/87%2016V/DSC03310_small.jpg

V-band clamps are absolutely the best!! No fruitless messing around trying 
to pull apart slip fit joints. No cursing trying to get a wrench or socket 
on a bolt for a 3 bolt flange! No gaskets required!

www.summitracing.com has them for ~$40 although only the clamp is stainless.
http://stores.channeladvisor.com/verociousmotorsports has a complete 
stainless setup for ~$66.
www.burnsstainless.com has a complete setup with formed flanges instead of 
machined for ~$95.

Really! These things are the cat's ass!

So, now I can take my downpipe out easily the next time it cracks. Or....I 
can build a nice little stainless steel header with nice long secondary 
pipes but w/o cat that I can swap in and out easily.
Well, once I get the 84 running that is. ;^)
Dan