Thanks Tyler, I figured it out. Somehow the hole must have been more rusted than I thought and had pushed in a bit. Looks like I might have to buy a new muffler.
So relieved that wasn't another "must of been". I've been seeing that butchering of grammar too many times lately. A sign of common breeding.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!