A design fault for all Mk1's?

Am I the only owner to suffer from a blowing exhaust mainfold?

After being lectured by someone who been fixing VW's for longer than most of the forum have been on this planet, I get the impression that the MK1 exhaust manifold was always a problem. Moreover the later models with the round coupling were even worse. The Mk2's solved the problem by fitting a flexible coupling from the manifi=old to the downpipe.

The problem seems to be an excessive amount of movement of the motor which fratures any exhaust coupling or worse, the manifold.

Is the only answer to tighten the gearbox mount as much as possible and to fit a sliding joint in the exhaust system?

Answers and advice would be helpful

Tim

well,thats strange i am a mot tester and see under many vw cars,never seen the clipped on downpipe blow,i have had countless mk1 and mk2 golfs,all with the clip on front pipe,never changed the round gasket on any of them,my mk2 tirbo diesel is fine,origional vw frontpipe still on at 122,000 miles  8O
Bert

u tryed fitting a flexi pipe to it, if u go scrappy and get a downpipe/centre section should get one for about a tenner, if ur handy with the welder cut a bit out n weld it in?

Atleast the clip fitting doesn't suffer from snapped studs like the MK1 GTI 6 stud manifold, that is a pain.

"Design Fault" and "Mk1" should never be used in the same sentence. Go to your room!  :evil:

Seriously though - I have never heard that before…  :?

I belive this can be a problem brought on by worn engine mounts. The engine moves around eventually breaking the seal on the exhaust. This can be accentuated by more enthusiastic driving.

The manifold design [6 bolt type] is good the problems start when the engine mounts are worn and when you fit a heavy stainless exhaust or large steel one .

I remember this question coming up before and 'crasher' who used to post on here and i think is the brain at C and R ? Recomended that to prevent this problem only use an approved standard exhaust or some thing like a Jetex and replace those worn mounts to give the engine some flexibility

Cheers………….

The cars is off to Arnies to see what Andy can do about the problem, he wants to change the engine mounts and a sliding coupling bewtween the new manifold and the rest oif the exhaust system.

It seems like a good plan.

But will it work?

Never had a problem, have seen a couple of cases where the c clip downpipe on rocco's has come apart where its tack welded together below the joint but thats about it, could well be the odd case due to worn mounts and a rusty downpipe

mine is also blowing i has standard exhaust and all good mounts the front one being poly urethane so quite solid but not too bad

what do you think i swapped to another manifold new gaskets and is doing the same still

Stu

its only a problem as every one else has said when the engine mounts become weak or split, a new set of these or uprated poly ones will stop this.

This is going to be fitted plus new mounts-later in the year a big valve head will complete the job.

That should make it burble nicely.

the back mount makes the most difference, poly it up  :wink: