merger on 68 or later T1?

[egspot]

I read this:

"In order to put a turbo full flow muffler on your bug you need to first install a header system. There are a number of different manufacturers. I put S&S non-merged headers on my 69' bug. An important note... 1968 bugs and later have a smaller apron, and you can't put merged headers on a 68' or later bug due to that reduced apron size. If you have a 1967 or earlier bug, you have a much bigger apron underneath the rear end, and you can put merged headers on. "
"

Has anyone use a merger on 68 or later?

What kind of modifications are needed?

[neil68]

I drive a stock '68 Beetle, with original apron still in good shape.

I've used the 1 5/8" EMPI merged header (actually it's non-merged when you look at the crappy welding inside ) and have also run the 1 3/8" S&S header years ago.  No modifications to the apron were required for any of these, except the EMPI, as the 1:00 flange point touched the bottom of the apron.  Here's my current 1 3/4" Bugpack header with A1 Magnaflow turbo muffler...it just misses the bottom of the apron at the muffler flange.

The touched-up paint that you see in the photo is from the previous EMPI header hitting the back of the apron during engine install...stay away from EMPI headers...they are made in Taiwan or China and are poorly constructed).  The Bugpack header, however, is a work of art: