Thanks Dennis.  I'll try loosening the right one first.  I left the
cat connected to the pipe because it was so well sealed.  Are the
gaskets that go between the cat and muffler and muffler and tailpipe
commonly available at my FLAPS?  I also hope to fix a small leak
between one of the headers and the collector.  Leaving everything
else alone if I can help it.  BTW, I replaced the header pipes when I
first bought the van in 2000.  Had a repair made to the connector
pipe a few years later.  Otherwise the exhaust has been fine this
whole time.  Muffler is shot now...  could that be the original muffler?

Edward

At 11:18 PM 5/4/2013, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>Removing the right side bracket or at least lowering it will make removal
>and reinstallation easy. As it is difficult to get to the cat to muffler
>bolts with it all in place I usually remove it with the Cat and swap the cat
>to the new muffler and then put it back together in one shot.
>
>Dennis
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>Edward Maglott
>Sent: Saturday, May 4, 2013 7:57 PM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: removing muffler on 2.1
>
>Well, it's almost out.  A little sawzall, a little dremel, a little
>angle grinder....   It's separated from the Cat, and the straps are
>off.  Do I need to remove the bottom half of the muffler brackets?
>
>Edward