Many thanks to all who advised me on my exhaust gasket woes (Dean, Graham,
Bill, and Tom). For the time being I am going to try just doing without the
gasket altogether - bolt the (new, stainless steel, shiny) downpipe directly
to the (old, cast, rusty) manifold. Just did it in my lunch break - the car
doesn't seem noticeably louder than with the gasket installed, and there is
not a visible amount of smoke escaping from the joint - although I do miss the
pops and crackles on the over-run from when the gap was open! Whether it
causes an MOT problem I'll tell you all in about a months time...
Tom - I have a feeling (but anyone feel free to shoot me down if I'm wrong)
that the exhaust support that goes to a bell-housing bolt is a USA fitment
only, designed to deal with the weight of all the exhaust after-treatment
gubbins you lot have to cart around with you. It is not normally fitted to UK
cars.
Richard and Daffy (now making an acceptable, but not excessive, amount of
noise!)
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