I finally did it! New performance exhaust for 80 Q! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

[Tessie McMillan]

Thanks to EVERYONE who replied with their suggestions on what to do for an
exhaust on my 80Q! After a lot of discussion with various people on and off
digest, I decided the cheapest approach to a new exhaust system would be to
install a custom one. Since this is something far beyond my capabilities, I
looked around for a shop. One was recommended out in Lynnwood, but I opted
for a shop in Auburn that has been recommended by folks on the 20V digest.
So for you folks within shooting distance of Seattle:

Two words: Stan's Headers! ! ! ! ! This place is awesome. For $500 I got a
high-flow cat, a glasspack center exhaust, and a Magna Flow rear exhuast,
with a wide oval nickel-plated flat tip (installed). We were going to go for
two glasspacks, but there was only the choice of long or short for the rear
exhaust -- and when the long pack didn't fit, the guys felt the short would
give too much noise. So they went for the Magna Flow. This system is SOOOO
quiet, it is disappointing! I probably could have gotten away with a
straight pipe to the Magna Flow. But I do feel an immense change driving in
the first three gears. The car feels like a sailboat -- no resistance to
acceleration -- it feels like it's being sucked forward along the road on
air wheels. Very friendly to drive.

Stan and his crew are fabulous. When I admitted I'd taken a few months of
welding classes, well, they wanted to show me around the whole place and let
me touch stuff. They must have 12 welding stations, plasma cutters, all the
chop saws, band saws, table saws, circular saws, you could ever want... plus
mandrel benders, three (or four?) lifts, curved shears... The place is a
metal-worker's dream come true. He's got pictures of all the hot rods and
race cars he has done custom headers, blowers, and exhausts for.... If
you're anywhere in the Seattle area, check him out in Auburn. He has a
website at http://www.stans-headers.com and his contact info is (253)
850-1835 or stan at wa.net.

I have a track day tomorrow at SIR with my Alfa club so I'll let you know
how it goes! My old exhaust was so brittle that at the last event (at
Bremerton) one day of lapping blew huge holes through the center exhaust.
I've been driving around wearing earplugs the sound was so bad. It's very
nice to have a quiet car back, but I must admit I sure would like it to at
least SOUND like I had 7 more HP. They assured me that once some carbon gets
deposited on the inside, it *will* sound better.

OK I'm off to bleed brakes now. Managed to do the rears last night (in my
cramped garage) so now I'll do the front using a friend's SpeedBleeder.
These are fabulous -- you pressurize the system at the master cylinder then
go around and bleed at the brake cylinders. You don't need anyone's help.
(Even so, it takes me 4 hours just to do 2 lines... )

Tess
in rainy - no sunny - oops now rainy Seattle WA USA
p.s. Has anyone ever installed a Sparco seat in an Audi 80 Quattro?
Speedware (local performance tune shop) says they only make mounting rails
for the 5000/100 type cars.