ok, I hung 1.7/1.8 Stainless H/Es on my new engine... they went on fine for the most part... did have to bend(gently) a couple of the ex. studs back into alignment... I then put the same muffler system on that was on the previous 1.7 H/Es(not stainless)... it lined up with a little persuasion as well... NOW, the muffler bracket is NOT lining up at all! it almost looks like the H/Es are too close together to use that bracket!

anyone else have this problem? what to do?

There can be a couple of issues. First, make sure all the parts are from the same family; that is, you cannot intermix 2.0 and 1.7/1.8 parts. Second, always attach all parts together loose to start with, then start to tighten everything up. I always begin at the heads and work back. The HX's, muffler and hanger have to be loose until everything is connected.

Wayne,

There are 2 different hangers and 2 different headers, one for 2.0 and one for 1.7/1.8s. Since you say "NOT lining up at all", you may have a PO that may have mis-matched a hanger, or the headers themselves.

By the way, the 1.7/1.8 headers are deemed to be better performance wise than the 2.0 headers. My 2.0 has the backdated headers.

If they are just a "little bit" off, then use the loosened parts technique Dave mentioned. My Triad muffler just BARELY fits on the hanger, so part of what you may be running into is a lack of tolerances that accomodates an easy fit.

Good luck with it.

hey man I got a 1.7L/1.8L hanger if ya need it.

I think it's what Dave said... I just need to loosen things up and adjust... I hadn't tried that yet!

I have 2 hangers(matching), both were used on 1.7 H/Es / Mufflers before... so I don't know what the deal is... whatever I have, I have 2 of them :|

can someone post pics of 1.7 vs. 2.0 hangers so I can see which I have 2 of?

thanks for the help, I'll give it a shot! I'll also try and remember to take my camera to the garage for pics!

guys ...

yea,yea,yea... I'll get pics tonight of the problem...

thanks again guys for the help!