You know, I didn't to exhaust for many years because I saw how Midas always used torches to get the stuff off and figured you needed that. Would it be easier with a cutting torch? I've never used one, but I have to think that yes, it would cut the time in half. But do you have to? No way. The car lift would make it so much easier too, but again ...

Yes the pipes just slide into one another and then get clamped tight while the whole thing is hung from the car in various spots. Almost by definition, the old clamps are rusted badly so their bolts are as likely to break as turn, but who cares? You are throwing them away anyway. Bolt heads might not take a socket and you may have to use vice grips and tork them off. I could imagine having to resort to a dremel or hacksaw, but I haven't. Even then, would it be worth the extra $300 to have Midas install inferior parts? Not to me.

Go for it. It's really one of the hardest jobs to screw up. It's just tedious at times and awkward working under the car.

DO support your car carefully on good jackstands, and chock the front wheels well. Volvos are supposed to save lives, not crush them.
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Andy in St. Paul. '89 244 160K mi, '91 745 209K, '91 745 213K