So, now that I'm under my beloved '64 Valiant ragtop, dealing with a rusty gas tank, I'm looking around for other things that need attention.


My exhaust system has been "droopy" since I bought the car (tired rear leafs don't help!), and the pipes drag bottom going over humps in the road.

The system appears to be "correct" (maybe Midas?), with the muffler right in front of the rear axle.

The only hangers present are one at the rear end of the muffler, and another at the rear valence, supporting the tail pipe. The worst part of the "sag" is at the joint between the muffler and the front pipe...I'm thinking there should be a hanger there too, but I can find nothing on the floor pan to attach a hanger to...

Anybody know how many hanger points are supposed to be in this system ? ('64 Valiant Signet 200, convertible, slant-six & four-speed stick.)

Thanks...

De Soto Frank

Yours is correct...only two supports are used.

Doh...!

My next question then: were the original systems welded or slip & clamp?

Is the sag at the front end of the muffler a "common problem" ? (if you stand back from the side of the car, you can readily see the droop...)


Am I best served to just order a brand new system from stem to stern ?

The service manual shows only clamps and makes no reference to cutting welds to replace parts.

I've bought exhaust pipes in the past that were incorrectly shaped and caused the sag problem you describe. I think I'd take it to a muffler shop and let them align it. Sometimes they will have to cut a pipe and re-weld to make it fit close to the body.

Thanks for the replies; I'll see if I can make the pipes that are there behave...

Back to the rusty gas tank for now...

The factory had 2 hangers, one in the back of the muffler and one at the rear of the tailpipe. All the joints were clamped.

The hanger at the muffler bolted to a bracket welded onto the floor of the car, this is the same bracket that holds the rear brake system "hard line", were it connects to the flex line leading down to the axle housing. Look closely at that bracket and you should find the captured "floating nut" used to bolt the muffler hanger to.
DD