John,
  I haven't seen the picture in the ETKA and I don't know what terminalogy
it uses, but if "retainer" means the mounting bracket with the curved arm
that fits the muffler, the arm should be on the bottom to support the
weight of the muffler.  The straps just hold the muffler in place.
  If you haven't already bought them, you should consider fabricating your
own straps out of stainless steel, often available in plumbing
departments.  Those OEM straps are crazy thin, considering the conditions
they are exposed to.

Larry A.

On Sun, Mar 15, 2015 at 12:24 AM, John Rodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com>
wrote:

> I'm changing the muffler on my '91 CARAT and see the retainer and the
> tensioning straps are in reverse or upside down from what is shown in the
> ETKA. On the CARAT, the retaining strap is on the BOTTOM and the retainer
> on top.  If they WERE like ETKA, seems the muffler would be a WHOLE LOT
> easier to remove and replace.
>
> Did at some point the PO get it wrong on the last muffler change, or was it
> installed backwards at the factory?
>
> What's the deal?
>
> John
>