Stupid catalytic converter bracket
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 348
Likes: 1
From: Hermosa Beach, CA
Stupid catalytic converter bracket
So I got my car back together and forgot that 2 of the converter to exhaust system bolts had broken (they still looked ok, only shorter) and I can't remove them. So, there's no angle to drill straight through them and I can't remove the converter from the bracket so how do you remove that stupid bracket from the engine with the engine in its normal position. Is there some trick to get to that top bolt on the back of the engine that I'm just not seeing. Please for the love of God tell me there is because I might go insane if I have to drop the driveline beam and lower everything. Please help...I almost went crazy earlier because this is all I have left to do to get my car on the road again after a year and a half hiatus.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 4
From: Severna Park MD
Originally Posted by cresus
So I got my car back together and forgot that 2 of the converter to exhaust system bolts had broken (they still looked ok, only shorter) and I can't remove them. So, there's no angle to drill straight through them and I can't remove the converter from the bracket so how do you remove that stupid bracket from the engine with the engine in its normal position. Is there some trick to get to that top bolt on the back of the engine that I'm just not seeing. Please for the love of God tell me there is because I might go insane if I have to drop the driveline beam and lower everything. Please help...I almost went crazy earlier because this is all I have left to do to get my car on the road again after a year and a half hiatus.
Thanks.
Thanks.
It's possible if you take out the tranmission support, that you can tilt the back of the engine down enough to get to that bolt???
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 4
From: Severna Park MD
Originally Posted by MaxLean
It's been a long time since I installed my headers, but I don't recall having to do anything special to remove the cat brackets. My cars is a six speed, though.
My car is a 6 speed too, but my set of tools is limited.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
From: Madison Mississippi
I did it with a 24 inch extension and a wobble (universal socket) I had the exhaust hanger near the resonators loose to give me a little extra room and came in from above the exhaust and at an angle. If the hanger bolt is the same as mine, it has several ground wires on the top. Loosen that up and remove the grounds then, loosen the bolt. To re-install, you have to use eletrical tape to temporarily, hold the bolt steady while you find the hole. Of course you may have more practice than me. Good luck and yes, It was a P.I.T.A. 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 348
Likes: 1
From: Hermosa Beach, CA
There is no way to get on that top bolt without tilting the engine down. Only way to do that is to remove the driveline support. So cutting the bracket causes no problems like vibration? Why is that there to begin with then. I'll just cut the thing if that's the case. Unless someone knows of some other way to do this.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 348
Likes: 1
From: Hermosa Beach, CA
I do have said extensions and wobble but the wobble and socket (short well) hit the firewall when the engine is in its resting spot. I hoped maybe I could get at it from above using a wrench because the only way I was able to get that off when it was even pointing down was using a slightly oversized socket as there was no way to get on it at the right angle. Am I missing something fundamental here? Hopefully so. What's the problem with cutting it just to be curious?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
From: Madison Mississippi
Ok, I know the problem....I too used a shortwell with no results. Switch over to the deep well. You can't get it off with a shortwell.It ain't gonna happen.. Use a universal wobble that fits onto the deep socket. Also, If I recall it was an odd size as well. What size socket? I believe I used a metric sorry, I don't recall the size for you. Don't cut off that bracket yet.....And you have to get it from below the car....on a very high jack stand. I used two truck stands 6-tons each,
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 686
Likes: 62
From: San Jose Ca
Originally Posted by RUBYREDVETTECARD
Ok, I know the problem....I too used a shortwell with no results. Switch over to the deep well. You can't get it off with a shortwell.It ain't gonna happen.. Use a universal wobble that fits onto the deep socket. Also, If I recall it was an odd size as well. What size socket? I believe I used a metric sorry, I don't recall the size for you. Don't cut off that bracket yet.....And you have to get it from below the car....on a very high jack stand. I used two truck stands 6-tons each,
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 2
From: East TN
I have an A4 and it was the hardest bolt to get to when doing the headers but what I did was first soak it down with a lot of PB Blaster. I used a short socket and a wobble joint with a long extension... it did rub the underside of the body a little but no big deal. Theres only enough room to break it free if you keep trying to wrench it the ocket will back out and have no room to come out so after you break it free tighten it up enough to get the socket out. I then used a ratchet wrench to get the bolt out. I had a really hard time with this bolt but its doable.
