Type 4: Secrets Revealed

Type 4 Exhausts

This page was last updated Tuesday, September 15, 2009

If none of the systems that in my other article seem to fit your unique vehicle, then your only option is to have a custom header designed just for your car. Kit cars are a prime example of a car that may need a custom exhaust system.

A couple of the manufacturers mentioned in this article have, in the past, designed and built custom headers for vehicles that standard systems won't fit or are undesirable. These include Tangerine Racing (Manchester, CT, USA), A-1 Muffler (Santa Ana, CA, USA), and Turbo Thomas (Astwood Bank, Redditch, UK). Look them up and see what they can do for you.

Tom "Tom Notch" Hansen uses this custom exhaust on his 2.6L Type 4 powered Type 3 Notchback.

Another option is to look locally for a muffler shop that has the facilities, know-how, and experience to build a well designed header. Ask to see some of their previous work, talk to people who've they've done work for, and ask questions. It's not a cheap process to do, but a well-designed system will make a great engine like the Type 4 either a tuning nightmare or a purring cat ready to pounce.

A good resource on designing your own header for a Type 4 is available here: http://www.e21motorsports.com/kendanielson/headers.html. Ken Danielson did a lot of research, learning about the ins and outs of designing a header. He has a lot of great links to other sources to make you informed. If you are considering fabricating your own header, make sure you spend some time reading this web page and it's links.

Thanks go to Rolf Christensen, Ron "Plastermaster" Roberts, Ephraim "Ephry73" Castillo, Rich Craig, Tom "Tom Notch" Hansen, and Jake Raby for all of their help in gathering the information and supplying photos. Thanks guys!!