I just finished cleaning everything up real nice and sealed it with silicone again before reading your reply (figures). I will give my work another shot and if it leaks I will go back and check the muffler surface and use the gasket. I know that I have tightend the bolts beyond what you describe in this post, but only to the tightness I understood from the included instructions. I hope to fly again in a few days and will report back, thanks Al for you reply.
Doug