adams44,
I am surprised that your exhaust ring even fit inside the exhaust flange, my new ring needed to be filed to fit. Install the exhaust ring with the gap on the top. I would think if your ring will fit inside the flange with out filing it may be a little worn, I would remove the pipe and ring, clean the exhaust flange and ring. Inspect the ring for even wear, then install the ring in the exhaust flange and check to see if is sealing all the way around the flange, and that there is very little ring end gap( not sure what is recommended but mine is about .001 ) But your biggest problem sounds like the alignment of the pipe, this needs to be almost perfect for the ring to seal. I did use a exhaust isolation mount at the front motor mount but not from my silencer, I still use both isolation mounts on my silencer(I do not have a FMF silencer}. You may need to purchase a extra one if you don't have one. It will mount 2 different ways with different offsets so pick the offset with the best pipe alignment. Your nerfs may clear now, if not you may have to try to clearence them ( file, bend or mount different). Also if you ever port your motor you will want to grind the hole in the pipe's flange to the same size as the exhaust manifold on the motor.

 

Hey Rsss396;
You were right, I pulled my exhaust ring off and it wouldn't fit inside the pipe. I filed off about 5 to 10 thousandths and gapped the ring at .002" which solved my exhaust leak problem AND the rubbing problem on the a-arm mount.
Still had to file off the nerf bar mount about 1/8", but I am missing one stock exhaust mount.
Thanks for the help. That is what I get for not reading the instructions.

P.S. at Badlands this weekend, saw 2 r's with fattys and they both had the same problem and I could see that the end was not fitting over the exhaust ring.

 

no problem, anything for a fellow hoosier that rides red