With my '69 Nova up and running, it's time to complete the exhaust. I'm doing it in my shop since there really isn't any way of getting it to a muffler shop. My point is that I'm having a tough time visualizing how to hang and clamp the tailpipes. There doesn't appear to be much back there to work with. Any suggestions on what hardware to use and how to secure the system? I'm going to hang the back of the mufflers from the rear seatbelt holes (or maybe drill new holes above them). That should work well. The rest of the system is mocked up and ready to get into position and tack weld to keep in place. A little help on the tailpipes will be very much appreciated. Maybe a pic or two? Thanks.

Most dual exhaust setups on the X-body run the tailpipes over the rearend and between the spring and unibody rail then down so it exits under the quarter panels. There isn't much room between the gas tank and spring and shackle to tuck it up nice for a straight out the back install. if you do 2 1/2" pipe and go over the spring and down this usually gives the best routing, 3" is really tight.

I neglected to mention that the tailpipes are a Flowmaster system, and they do run straight back exit under the rear bumper tucked between the quarter panel and the springs. Everything fits nicely, but the problem is going to be how to secure them properly. Thanks.

I'm trying to remember how my '72 Nova was originally set up. It's a factory dual-exhaust car with the transverse muffler between the axle and the gas tank. The tailpipes exited the muffler and made a 90* turn to the rear, and just at or slightly to the rear of that turn, there was a hanger that bolted to what passes for a frame rail.

The hanger was a loop of fabric-reinforced rubber, similar in construction to a chunk of tire carcass. The tailpipes ran back between the spring and the fender, terminating under the bumper, where there was a solid metal hanger bolted to the inner fender structure just in front of the bumper.

There was no other hanger on the whole system, with the front of the exhaust pipe being supported by its attachment to the exhaust manifold.

Each side was a mirror image of the other, and the passenger side used the same hangers as a single-exhaust car.

It now has no hangers except for the ones under the bumpers, and some Toyota station wagon (~'76 or so) hangers adapted to the original exhaust pipes. They look like small water buffalo horns welded to the top of the pipe, with a similar piece hung with a cheap rubber "universal" hanger from the floor pan near the seat belt bolts. Big rubber O-rings connect the upper and lower "horns". The transverse muffler is still in use for now.

It's been that way for many years with no problems other than a couple of the O-rings popping off, but if I had to do it again, I'd try to hang the "horns" from the seat belt reinforcement plate, which is likely much stronger than the floorboard itself.