Stebro Replaces Ansa on Berlina

[Kevin Trent <trentkc@domain.elided>]

This weekend I replaced the perfectly good Ansa unit on my grey berlina
with a new Stebro stainless tailpipe.   I did this because it is my opinion
the upswept twin pipe style of the Ansa is the cause for the right rear of
the car to get sooty from exhaust.   Both my good berlinas with Ansa pipes
have sooty rear valences, but my beater berlina, with its stock style
single pipe which exits to the side and horizontal to the ground,  is
clean.  So I'll let you know in a few weeks if the Stebro solves the
problem, as it replicates the stock configuration.

A few observations:  I ordered on Jan 20 and received well protected
packlage on 26th; the Stebro is ~2-3 pounds lighter; it came with an
unusual (to me) unwelded 'slipfit" flange that pulled on a flared end of
the pipe to seal on the edge of the normal gasket.  When I called, the
Stebro guy said they are all made with a short (1.5") flared pipe welded to
the  main pipe to the muffler, and that this, with the "sliding" flange
would allow a more adjustment for a better fit.   I had my doubts, but he
was correct in that I was able to really put the tailpipe EXACTLY where I
wanted it, and this system certainly afforded better adjustment and hence
better fit (I just hope the gasket seal will last as well as the Ansa).
Finally, the Stebro had a nice big shiny tip with an inside diameter of
60mm.  The Ansa has two big tips but with inside diameters of 30mm.  If my
math is correct, this means that the Stebro had an opening of 2827 sq mm
while the Ansa has only 1413 sq mm.   Whoa, that is a big difference!!  Is
the Ansa restricting the flow of exhaust?

KCT, Powell  TN

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