Blackpool has no more garages

After obtaining my mk1 clipper at christmas some of you know already it came with a cherry bomb excuse for an exhaust which was as we all know covering the other faults on the car with the noise! So new middle and back box and i went out all excited and fitted them! Still blowing i was a little upset but thought at least i will have a whole new system so i bought the downpipe and had to do the well known removal of the head due to cream crackered rounding nuts etc so….
Turned out the manifold was cracked so a replacement was purchased and at the same time bought a replacement inlet all the gaskets EVERYTHING!
All put back together and timed up to the best of my ability for now as the Carb needs an overhaul and i swear it was still blowing from the manifold to downpipe! (I had to use the original C clamps as the new ones were about 10mm out with C clamp tool at full spread) the noise did seem to get a little louder after a few times running it and by this time i had and have had enough of it and was willing to pay a garage to sort it!!!
Can i find one NOT A CHANCE!!!
Blackpool is a cess pit at the best of times so trying the only garage i trust, i booked it in wanting the new C clamps put on.
Got there and when shown they said "Oh we cant do that you should try a VW garage!"
Unbeliveable!!!! VW main dealer prices!!!!
So went there anyway as i was sick of it all by now and thought get it done how much can they charge me to put 2 C clamps on for God's sake!?!?!?
So at an agreed £40 i agreed to let them do it and left it with them overnight to be done this morning..
This morning i got a phone call at 8:15am from the VW garage asking me if i can come and explain as they dont understand!?!?!? WTH!?!?!?
Ok so i went down and they try telling me it has the wrong Middle pipe and that it is blowing from there!
Now with the Gearbox not quite lined up properly after bush change and brakes being less than desirable i half expected a call mentioning these as they are on the to do list once i have her set up running A1.
As the exhaust matches exactly the one removed which was the original with silly backbox and reducer im pretty confident in saying it is the correct part! and even if it isn't then at worst it is a slightly bigger bore and is increasing slightly not to small and restricting!
Anyway at this i took my car back!
All i wanted done was what i had asked for 2 C clamps replacing!
Am i really wrong expecting ANY garage to do what is asked of them????
I am now sat with a MK1 clipper that will NEVER see the road because i can not do it and there is no garage in Blackpool period!
I am ofcourse going to have another look at it later when i calm down but i am 1 step away from the mathches!cf_emoticons__BangHead:

Definitely worth pulling the manifold out and fitting a gti 6 bolt style, no more stupid c clips and better gas flow.

You can use a bolt with a nut on to spread the c clamp just wind the nut and will open the clamp 

Sorry it wasn't a bolt it's an exhaust c clamp slot it in undo it and it spreads the clamp 

Or change the manifold up to u 

Thanks for the input guy's the image really helped
It could be the possability that the clamp's i received were just garbage quality metal as the one in the pic and the originals look similar but the new ones are thicker cheap looking metal quality!
The garage did try and complement me on getting the originals back on like i had im just convinced they are too slack and needed the new thick ones on but now im not convinced as im typing is this going to turn out to be the downpipe to middle pipe needing clamping more job done!?!?
Im starting to doubt myself now  
Although you would not expect a vw place to tell you it's the wrong exhaust when it's quite clear it is brand new and the correct one for the correct year (84/87) 1.8 Carb.
I have been looking at the stainless one for my car on ebay for £165 but just didnt want to spend that much to be honest!
I just wanted to stop it from sounding like a tank sort the wheel bearing and the brakes and use it for the summer before taking it off road for a full rebuild!
I guess it's just a case of Percy Verence!!
Never was my strong point  
And before you say it "Yes! it is a good idea taking on a full rebuild if i dont have Percy!!"  
How else am i going to learn
Ahh… I feel much better now and the sun is coming out and the exhaust will be nice and cool now!
Watch this space for more hilarious rants if it goes wrong!
That is ofcourse unless the Mod's stop it!    

I've only just changed manifolds from the c clip. It worked fine but the clamps weeken over time and mine squeezed every time I released the throttle to change gear and was driving me nuts. Got a manifold and down pipe for around £40 posted I think so it's a cheap option and a drastic improvement whilst still keeping it original-ish

notallthere..I had exactly the same problem with mine..ie  the `C` clamps being loose after being removed then refitted..bought 2 new ones from eurocarparts and problem solved...use the exhaust clamp trick to fit them,makes the job a doddle

Sorted the downpipe to middle blowing and sure enough it seems to be seeping from the manifold to downpipe gasket (The way I see it if the garage had done as asked the exhaust would be done now!)
However… I think my battle for keeping it standard is all but lost
Then again that was always secretly the case when my father said "Oh it's the 90bhp one!"
I see a stainless system ahead

There are 2 vw specialist in Blackpool area ,
Volks workshop Red Marsh ind est ..a bit hit n miss ..ok for getting hold of parts pretty quick though , although i think their main supplier is europarts ..
and volks service Clifton rd Marton who i would prefer if needed