328 Exhaust tipsmuffler alignment

Hello again everyone,

(there should be some sort of rule against posting - or encountering - more than one problem per day..!)

Have not yet returned to rechecking fuel pressure. Instead lifted car to replace all four (US/stock exhaust) exhaust gasket "donuts". After the obligatory bolt shearing on removal, removed the connector pipe, converter, and muffler. Removed old exhaust gasket donuts - challenge unto itself - & cleaned flanges well. Reinstalled with all new F gaskets (from Ferr UK) and...the muffler & tips are now slightly shifted to the left.

On further consideration, seems the converter gaskets are slightly "thicker" than the ones I removed, accounting for 1/4" misalignment.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? Anre there any provisions for "recentering" the muffler? There are currently no shim washers on either side bracket & seems hangers "float" to either side?

Goodness thought (excepting removal of old gaskets) this was going to be an easy one.

Thanks once again,

Carl

Hi Carl,

Hmmmm....the only technique I know of to mitigate alignment problems of the type ypu mention is to loosen all the bolts once more and align the tips first, then work your way back thru the unions tightening little by little to prevent reoccurance of the misalignment until all the unions are once again tight.

If that doesn't work then the exact nature of the problem will have to be found and corrected.

Regards, JRV

JRV, that is an excellent suggestion. I started by installing connector pipe and tightening, then following with cat & muffler.

Shall loosen all & re-try in AM & post results.

Goodnight,

Carl

Carl I had to reloosen my all of my bolts in order to get proper alignment. It took me sometime too. Many many tries. Keep us posted on the fuel pressure issues. I would like to know what the culprit is.

Thanks JRV & Richelson for the encouragement. With a few wooden wedges to hold in desired position, loosening & retightening all connnections (about 3 times) now hangs as it should.

Onward to next challenge!
(smile)
C
arl