the angle of the cat end of the header after placing the sleeve over it was maybe at the weld point 1/8" or less too HIGH, meaning the angle of the cat end of the header pipe point towards the floor.

by the time you add the 40" of cat pipe the cat end towards the first muffler is now pressing up against the cars floor.

solution:

i took a 24tpi blade on a reciprocating saw and sliced a slot in the middle of the newly welded sleeve starting at the bottom and cutting so al that was left of the sleeve intact was the top 1" of meat. the depth of actual metal as measured from the top of the sleeve down to the cut was 1/4" or less.

then like a lumberjack i made another slice but at an angle as if taking a pie shaped piece out of the sleeve. we are not talking big wedge but at the bottom of the sleeve the opening would be 3/16". once this was done i took rag and pulled down from the top of the cat the hole piping system which was still intact untl the space in the bottom of the slit sleeve closed. this small amount at the sleeve lowered the whole muffler system maybe 1 1/2"- 2" at the point where the first muffler starts. leaving plenty of space between the pipes and the floor.

once i was satisfied with this i tacked welded a few spots around the slice and then electric welded a nice bead around the entire slit.

re adjusted the G--damn donut gasket and started it up.

perfect, quiet as new with no vibration!!

job done.