[LETTERHEAD OF WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER]




July 22, 1994



Mueller Industries, Inc.
2959 North Rock Road
Wichita, Kansas 67226

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We  have  acted as  counsel  to Mueller  Industries,  Inc. (the  "Company"), a
corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, with respect to
the  Company's  Registration   Statement  on   Form  S-8  (the   "Registration
Statement")  being filed  by  the Company  with  the  Securities and  Exchange
Commission on the date  hereof, in connection with the registration  under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by  the Company of an aggregate of 225,000
shares of  Common  Stock, par  value  $0.01 per  share  (the "Common  Stock"),
issuable  in accordance  with the terms  of the Mueller  Industries, Inc. 1994
Stock  Option  Plan   and  1994  Non-Employee  Directors   Stock  Option  Plan
(collectively, the "Plans").

As  counsel  for the  Company,  we have  examined,  among  other things,  such
originals or copies (certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of
such  documents,  certificates  and   records  as  we  deemed   necessary  and
appropriate for the purpose of preparing this opinion.

Based on the foregoing, we are of  the opinion that the shares of Common Stock
have been duly and validly authorized  for issuance and, when issued and  paid
for in accordance with  the terms of the Plans, will  be validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.

We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as part of the Registration
Statement.

Very truly yours,

WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER