Nel has given you the truth, at least as it appears in our salty rust-belt perspective. The patch you want to apply is, if like how ours die, at the inlet side of the muffler where it joins the axle pipe.

Now, apply the drying SoCal climate to the rubber hangers, and they just might not survive wrestling them off of the four pins. You might want to at least have a pair of those handy. Prying the pins out of the hangers all by yourself is the second most tricky aspect of this job. The first is getting them back in.

And you're right to be mindful of the stress that letting it hang unsupported would lend to the head pipe and its attachment to the bell housing bracket, and if that isn't there any longer, the head itself. Put something underneath to support it.

You might be able to do a "muffler bandage" patch if you truly don't want new cat-back exhaust on your neighbor's car. I was amazed at how this product held up after using it 1000 miles from home one summer. These pics were taken in a Walmart parking lot.






--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

The Art Collector's Wife:

A New York attorney representing a wealthy art collector called and asked to speak to his client. "Saul, I have some good news and, I have some bad news."

The art collector replied, "I've had an awful day; let's hear the good news first."

The lawyer said, "Well, I met with your wife today, and she informed me that she invested $5,000 in two pictures that she thinks will bring a minimum of

$15-20million. I think she could be right."

Saul replied enthusiastically, "Well done! My wife is a brilliant businesswoman! You've just made my day. Now I know I can handle the bad news. What is it?"

The lawyer replied, "The pictures are of you with your secretary.”