Philip:
I've just nearly completed the same oddysey...
>First question: is one expected to get an absolutely flush fit of the
>sliding flange on the front pipe with the flange on the manifold? Mine is
>close but not quite. I put a small amount of high temp RTV at this joint
>and started tightening the bolts. I got to a point where I just physically
>couldn't tighten anymore. Not much room to work in that area is there?
>Also, I was afraid to snap a stud.
You DID install the proper doughnut gaskets, right? These are tapered
asbestos rings - go between the headpipe and manifold. With the gaskets in
place, don't overtorque! You want it tight, but not so tight as the plates
that the studs go through will crack. There's a reason for all the rubber on
the hangers -- for FLEX!
>Second question: the front pipe is just attached at the manifold and about
>3/4 of the way to the end of the front pipe using one of those rubber
>mounts attached to a bracket. There aren't any more brackets to the car
>for the front pipe are there?
Assuming its like my B, NO. just the one bracket, on my B it goes to the
Tranny housing.
>Third question: I assume I just use some sealer and clamp at the joint
>between front pipe and muffler assembly?
That's what I did...and asked the list first... no one called me an idiot,
so I assume it's ok!
>Fourth question: I have another one of those rubber mounts but can't see
>anywhere to attach it to the car. All I see are two straight bolts coming
>out of the body. One on the driver's side and one on the passenger's side.
> Are these the only two mounting points for the resonator box/muffler
>assembly? I expected to find a place to mount a u-bracket or something.
>There was one auspicious set of two holes almost at the very rear of the
>car on the driver's side, but the spacing is too narrow for either the
>rubber mount or a u-bracket. Get a smaller mount or bracket? Use the
>straight bolts with some sort of bracket?
You lost me there, maybe the midge is different, but on the B there's a
middle bracket, between silencers, that hangs the pipe.
>Can anyone help with how the muffler is attached to the car?
>
>Fifth and final question: I have two round rubber muffler bushings.
>Assuming that I use the obvious two straight bolts, can I further assume
>that I use one rubber bushing on each to cushion the ride of the muffler?
Those sound like the ones that are on the REAR hanger, they go with the
stock hanger, above the mounting bracket...I'd check your manual.
>
>Thanks for bearing with me. This whole car repair thing is new to me as I
>know is obvious to all the gurus out there. :) But I am having a perverse
>sort of fun figuring all this out with list help.
I'm with ya! As long as your getting bloody knuckles and sore muscles,
you're doing ok!
Dan
'73 B
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