Well, that's what I'm doing, taking a break. I've called it quits for the night.

Your procedure makes sense. I did have the up pipe bolts loose at the time but the turbo was bolted down.

What about the main exhaust outlet pipe? Same method? Which one would you do first?

I hate giving up but I'm burnt out, wife's giving me he** for spending all my time with the truck (calls it my mistress) and on top of it all, I got pressure to get it going asap with little time to work on it anymore. I'm dreading the thought of tearing back into it to a gain access to the clamps and mounting bolts. Seems like everything was a bi*ch, fighting me all the way but I got it done just to discover this exhaust leak. What a let down. Sorry for the rambling, just venting I guess.