Can't Get Sidepipes Loose From the Headers
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge LA
Can't Get Sidepipes Loose From the Headers
My mufflers are just rattling around inside my Hooker sidepipes so I figured I'd just take them out for a while before sending everything off to JetHot this summer. Well the sidepipes are pretty much fused onto the headers. They are the chrome version so I know they are just rusted together.
My buddy told me someone had posted about a tool they built from Home Depot to removed the sidepipes. Anyone heard of this?? I put a floor jack under the headers and had someone stand on top of the collectors and still could not get them to budge. I just don't want to get too violent with them and crack the headers. I'm soaking them all week with penetrating oil. Any other suggestion?
.
My buddy told me someone had posted about a tool they built from Home Depot to removed the sidepipes. Anyone heard of this?? I put a floor jack under the headers and had someone stand on top of the collectors and still could not get them to budge. I just don't want to get too violent with them and crack the headers. I'm soaking them all week with penetrating oil. Any other suggestion?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 948
Likes: 0
From: Johnston Iowa
I think I saw someone slide a PVC pipe clamp over the side pipe tube onto the header and then another onto the side pipe.
Then they clamped them own and used a bolt and a nut or something between the 2 clamps to spread them a part.
I can't remember the exact setup though.
Then they clamped them own and used a bolt and a nut or something between the 2 clamps to spread them a part.
I can't remember the exact setup though.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 642
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From: Baton Rouge LA
Remember I'd like to reuse them. If getting them off were the only goal trust me they would have been off on Saturday. 
Actually I did try the hammer and pry bar on the back side and they wouldn't move. Worst case is I get rough with them and just get a new set of pipes from Hooker.
Paul
Actually I did try the hammer and pry bar on the back side and they wouldn't move. Worst case is I get rough with them and just get a new set of pipes from Hooker.
Paul
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,202
Likes: 10
From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
If you have a GM dealership with a good parts dept. near you, get a can of Goodwrench heat valve lubricate. Part# 1052627. It's the best penetrating/rust busting stuff out there. Spray it around the joint for a few days and let it work. If that won't work it loose...it's on to more drastic measures
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Originally Posted by Paul @ Thunder
.
My buddy told me someone had posted about a tool they built from Home Depot to removed the sidepipes. Anyone heard of this??
.
My buddy told me someone had posted about a tool they built from Home Depot to removed the sidepipes. Anyone heard of this??
.
I'll be watching for that persons reply...cause I have to do this soon.
Eddie
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,728
Likes: 1
From: Maple
i use a piece of wood between the collector and the frame to push the collector away from the car about an inch or whatever it will move...leave the wood there...this gives you enough play that you can grab the sidetube by the back tire and wiggle and pry it back and forth to loosen it and pull it off...i do this every time and it works great.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,804
Likes: 4
From: Standing still with all my might Texas
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09-'11
Originally Posted by 1Bad69
i use a piece of wood between the collector and the frame to push the collector away from the car about an inch or whatever it will move...leave the wood there...this gives you enough play that you can grab the sidetube by the back tire and wiggle and pry it back and forth to loosen it and pull it off...i do this every time and it works great.
I just did exactly that last night to remove my passenger side sidepipe so I can get to the heater core. I would have taken pictures, but I was too busy
at the damm thing. 
Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 631
Likes: 41
From: Tampa FL
Paul - now that you mention the muffler rattling, that was definitely the noise I heard!! Wasnt sure what it was but glad thats it - especially since you need to take the pipes off anyway...just wanted to throw that out there since that noise was buggin me..
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge LA
Originally Posted by mike229
Paul - now that you mention the muffler rattling, that was definitely the noise I heard!! Wasnt sure what it was but glad thats it - especially since you need to take the pipes off anyway...just wanted to throw that out there since that noise was buggin me..
Yeah Mike I just thought it was the actual pipe that was loose, which it was, but the mufflers were just loose in there. Not to mention it was all Bubba installed. I got a complete new hardware kit coming from Hooker so I'm just going to pull the mufflers out until I get the headers recoated.
Paul
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 385
Likes: 10
From: Baton Rouge La
hey bud...found it. This is what I was talking about.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ghlight=hooker
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ghlight=hooker
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,281
Likes: 6
From: NC USA
1Bad69 has the best solution. I use lots of Master Blaster a few days ahead of time and let em soak. I also pry apart the clamp portion of the side tube to make sure it's 'opened up' as much as possible. For those whose mufflers are stuck inside the side tubes, use lots of Master Blaster as above and then turn it outlet side up and bang it down on a section of 2x10 wood or larger to protect the mating flange. Eventually, it will work its way free afer you bang the hell out of it!
Whatever you put back in there, use plenty of anti-seize on the inserts (mufflers or whatever) and the connection between the header and the sidetubes so they will easily come apart next time.
Whatever you put back in there, use plenty of anti-seize on the inserts (mufflers or whatever) and the connection between the header and the sidetubes so they will easily come apart next time.