Received my new Sidewinder! Super fast shipping!

Post by **vincent9993** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 9:20 pm

Thanks to Winnie, I already received my new Sidewinder. Great service! Looking forward to trying it out this week-end. I'm not going to be able to use it as I'll need to get a new rear bumper that will allow me to run the Sidewinder.

I do have some questions though, there are instructions with it but thought I'd check with the experts.

The "J" tubes seem to fit pretty nicely with the rear muffler unit but are you supose to seal them with rtv or something else?
It came with nice long brass(?) nuts, I've been using stainless steel nuts with Never Seize, are these better?
The flange is pretty thick, are the original head studs tipically long enough or should I plan on getting longer ones?
Should the flange welds inside the pipes be filed down to help flow?
Anything else to watch out for?

TIA

DIESELDOOG · Post by **DIESELDOOG** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:36 pm

Vincent,

With my last 2 Sidewinders, I had a difficult time getting the "J" tubes to line up with the rearmost piece
of the Sidewinder. I found that by removing the studs for the "J" pipe and then inserting the "J" tubes into
the mounted rearmost piece, I could compress the "J" tubes into their proper position and then insert the
gasket & studs correctly. I used a simple rachet style tiedown strap to compress the "J" tubes into the
correct position.

It is my belief that the heat applied to cure the ceramic coating allows the "J" tubes to open up a bit and
take a set. Once installed, I have had no problems. The Sidewinder looks great, performs great, and always
gets complements. I would buy another Sidewinder in a minute.

My Sidewinders came with self-locking copper nuts. This nut also allows for anti-seize effect on the studs. It
makes for easy removal if necessary.

Do not forget to remove the shipping plug from the outlet end of the assembly. These things are an essential
part of the shipping package as the protect the outlet from damage.

Post by **vincent9993** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:53 pm

Thanks Joe, looking forward to play mechanic this week-end. It's been a while I've had the chance to tinker with the buggy. All we do is drive it, that leaves little time for upkeep.

Note to self, get a brush to wash my hands and nails for Monday's ceo meeting!

jsturtlebuggy · Post by **jsturtlebuggy** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:36 am

Vincent,

I use the Ultra Copper RTV on all slip joint fitting on a exhaust system. It helps with sealing and makes it easier to get apart when it comes time to remove for engine maintainace.

I also use the Ultra Copper instead of the crappy exhaust paper gasket that come with most exhaust system.

When I stopped at CB Performace last road trip, i picked up a couple of sets of the new Graphite Compression exhaust gaskets. Have not installed them yet. They guys at CB say they work great and the same material is being used on High performance V8 engines.

I don't like the brass nuts for use on exhaust systems.

The stainless nuts and antisieze sound like the way to go.

manxdavid · Post by **manxdavid** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 5:54 pm

DIESELDOOG wrote
Do not forget to remove the shipping plug from the outlet end of the assembly. These things are an essential
part of the shipping package as the protect the outlet from damage.

I'm glad they started fitting those, mine didn't have one, burst thru the box and got really knocked out of shape...

Post by **vincent9993** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:09 pm

Thanks everyone, here it is sitting in my office along with a box of parts.

manxvair · Post by **manxvair** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 5:11 pm

Looks like you've got some work to do this weekend!

Post by **vincent9993** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 1:10 am

I could not resist, I took the old muffler off and test fitted the new Sidewinder tonight. Looks like I'll have to remove the fan belt guard. Is this normal or are you folks running fan belt guards with the sidewinder?

DIESELDOOG · Post by **DIESELDOOG** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 2:38 am

Vincent,

I do not have a belt guard on either buggy

Joe

Post by **vincent9993** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 12:42 am

Looks like I'm converted...

I was going to only test it out and then install my old 4-Tip muffler for the rest of the season. Well now that I've installed it, no way we're going back...

I'll have to try to get a new bumper done earlier than expected but I'm more than prepared to run it the way it is now.

It's obviously louder than the 4-tip but France and I think we can live with it. The drive to the OBX will be telling.

It definatly seems to rev up faster, not sure there's a lot more HPs though, only drove it a short distance.

Today was a good day:
- Replaced distributor cap
- Replaced rotor
- Replaced plug wired
- Replaced sand seal pulley (inside grove was all warn)
- Replaced outer alternator pulley (same)
- Replaced fan belt
- Replaced air filters
- Adjusted valves
- Installed Sidewinder
- Cleaned and waxed

I'll take some pictures tomorrow, I'm too tired and the thought of leaving my beer to go take pictures is just not apealing to me right now...

Tomorrow I plan on replacing the shift rod bushing and possibly adjusting the rear torsion bars.

Take care.

jsturtlebuggy · Post by **jsturtlebuggy** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 1:12 am

Looks good Vicent.

It should give you a little more power. It more free flowing than your old exhaust.

After you run it for a little bit you may want to check the color of the plugs to see if it leaned it out. You may need a jetting change.

Have fun with the shift bushing, they are not the easiest thing to change.

DIESELDOOG · Post by **DIESELDOOG** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 1:24 am

Vincent,

That is one good looking Sidewinder. I also notice thet none of the auxillary "tools" for
the installation made their way into the picture.

I hope all went well on the project.

Joe

Post by **vincent9993** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 1:30 am

Everything went well. Thanks for your tips.

Started with the optional tools and worked on that for some time. Left side J-Tube, was a little off but the right side went on like a glove.

Celebrated my good work with more optional tools. Sorry no picture of that...

Post by **vincent9993** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 2:32 pm

jsturtlebuggy wrote:Looks good Vicent.
It should give you a little more power. It more free flowing than your old exhaust.
After you run it for a little bit you may want to check the color of the plugs to see if it leaned it out. You may need a jetting change.
Have fun with the shift bushing, they are not the easiest thing to change.

Looks like there's no bushing replacement for me... I knew I had a 1960 body and I wken that VW only started to use thme in June of 1960. Unfortunatly, I painted over my serial number at the back of the tunnel. I took out our Snap-On inspection camera and I can clearly see that there is no bushing and it does not look like there's room for one.

I have an old log book where I wrote down the S/N: 2 737 708 and according to the web, VW only started to use the bushing from 3 140 046 onwards.

Post by **vincent9993** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 7:37 pm

Dash all cleaned.

Polished the alt pulley washer and cleared it. Looks as I chromed it.

New sandseal pulley.

Showing off my custom made air filter holders. Using this round base gave me enough clearance to mount the IDFs without raising the body or using short manifolds.