Thanks Tazza that is exactly what I did and i kept the muffler bolted to the frame until I got the flex pile lose. After taking off the muffler I sanded the carbon and soot off the flex pipe near the mouth so the muffler would fir on easier. A little oil make the install easier.The only way i have found to work is using oil and a screw driver to try and flare the tubing a little to get ti to move. I have done it on other exhausts too, its a slow process but hopefully you will get there.