I actually got it done with just stands in the back but im not a big guy so wiggling here and there made it work.

I got the car out for a longer drive today and this exhaust is impressive. It sounds super refined and makes no obtrusive noise at cruise... you can listen to the stock radio comfortably. I't really throaty under acceleration and it appears to have made a decent power improvement, probably mostly due to shifting at 4500 vs 4000 where the old exhaust started to lose is composure. It's really nice at idle and growls under full throttle... really does sound like an OEM component (no popping, no drone, engineered sounding "ping" to let you know it's there.

Happy endings are the best!

I launched the supplied hangers and went with some 304 Stainless sleeve clamps... this worked much better than I expected and the resonator and exhaust sections are virtually welded. The old clamps allowed some flexing of the joint and it leaked almost immediately. RC is getting this feedback as well...

I used a rubber mount attached to the factory '73 exhaust support... all very solid and muffler is hanging in the proper place from the factory hangers.

Completely leak free and solid now. Overall I'm delighted with this exhaust and these clamps make it perfect...

Edited September 23Sep 23 by L24ITS

@L24ITS Looks great, do you have a link to what you bought for those clamps?

Not sure if I can post a link... I searched on Amazon and found 1 3/4" clamps, $12 for 2 from Zorvello.

I'm also adding ITG foam filter and TWM air horns after running with the airbox open for an hour... this exhaust is really complemented well by mild induction roar!

Frank

Edited October 10Oct 10 by L24ITS
miss spelling.

14 hours ago, L24ITS said:

Not sure if I can post a link... I searched on Amazon and found 1 3/4" clamps, $12 for 2 from Zorvello.

I'm also adding ITG foam filter and TWM air horns after running with the airbox open for an hour... this exhaust is really complemented well by mild induction roar!

Frank

If anyone needs them

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C9QFY6DZ/ref=sw_img_1?smid=&th=1

Yep... those are the ones.

Just now, L24ITS said:

Yep... those are the ones.

I noticed you used some angle iron straps to get to the support over the diff. Did you find the bolts that came with it were long enough to accommodate the hanger? I would like to use the hangers that came with this setup but swap out these clamps for the ones provided. Just not sure it will all line up. I probably wont get to this for a few months as I'm moving out of my house and storing the car for a bit.

I think the forward bolts could be made to work, but didn't see the benefit. With those stainless sleeves in place, the mid pipe and muffler sections are as solid as a single piece. I did use the stock hanger location for my '73 with a new strap. My muffler is hung from factory mounts with new straps as well. It's solid as a rock in my case and those fiddly early hangers seemed more likely to screw up a nice, solid, interference free installation... so I didn't try very hard to make them work.

I have several hundred miles on the RC exhaust now and love it more with every drive... Hope it all works out for you.

Frank

What is your guys' opinion on installing a flex pipe right after the headers? Headers -> flange/flex pipe -> resonator -> exhaust pipe/muffler? Would the placement of a flex pipe reduce the stress on the whole setup from vibrations?

Edited October 11Oct 11 by darom

Are you experiencing strain on the system if you’re using the factory mounts and hangers? Flex pipe is primarily used for a temporary fix.

I am trying to plan ahead of my MSA 6-1 installation. I guess if a stock exhaust from Datsun just used factory mounts/hangers that should do it. Most modern exhaust systems include flex pipes, wondering if this setup helps with vibrations/less stress on mounting exhaust manifold bolts?