Clanking noise when accelerating, sometimes.
 

In the last couple of days I have noticed a loud clanking noise when the car is accelerating moderately. The noise sounds like cans being drug behind a car, like at a wedding. It is fairly loud and happens occasionally but only under moderate acceleration. I checked under the car and everything seems perfect, including the exhaust. Anyone have any ideas?

Check you exhaust hangers yet again, then check the motor mounts and the exhaust bushings at the tranny.

Exhaust bearings !;)

What is an exhaust bearing?

Check that your fan is not scraping the lower part of the shroud due to the engine mounts sagging with age. Also check your drive shaft center support bearing.

I was just kidding ! ;)
Sounds like " Q " may be on to something.

This is what the exhaust bushing kit looks like.

Picture straight from FastLane
http://www.pe.net/~mktangas/exhaust_bushing.jpg

In FastLane you'll find it under part # 201 490 00 37, also known as an exhaust suspension kit.

Kudos to another great suggestion. ;)

Thanks for all the suggestions. I went on a 3 week vacation and in that time the noise had stopped, I drove around 1500 miles.

Look for missing parts now...maybe catalytic converter cover?

Yeah, I should probaly check under the car. I took plenty of trips on dirt roads going around 50 mph, smoothly though. It's funny seeing all of these people with SUV's going super slow to not get them dirty.

I had this noise and it turned out to be the catalytic convertor breaking up inside. When I took it all apart lots of bits of catalyst fell out of the other boxes!

zerozero - your last post gave a good clue - travelling on dirt roads at high speed. I have had stones wedge up between the muffler and heat shield on VW Jettas causing the same sort of sound - the muffler has to flex a little at moderate acceleration for the stone to vibrate - stronger or less acceleration jams the stone so it does not vibrate- the twist on the muffler has to be just right- physically removing the stone or having it vibrate out usually cures the problem. Hope this helps
Morris