Tips for separating Old Exhaust components
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
From: Asheboro NC
Tips for separating Old Exhaust components
'89 Coupe 119,000 miles with all original exhaust. I have unbolted everything from Converter to the rear and tried for an hour or so to separate the converter from the front Y pipe with no luck. I took the bolts from the rear Y pipe also to try and separate it there also. No luck there either.
What is the trick to get pieces separated? I suspect the converter is clogged so it is my intention to replace with high flow cat if I can get the pieces separated.
What is the trick to get pieces separated? I suspect the converter is clogged so it is my intention to replace with high flow cat if I can get the pieces separated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
The "U" bolts when tightened will compress the metal pipe actually crimping the two pipes together. Your best bet is to either cut the pipes or use a grinder with a cut off wheel and run 4-5 slits into the pipes and then use a cold chisel and hammer it between the two pipes to expand the outer pipe.
Any way you look at it, it will not be a easy time.
Fastest and easiest is to just cut the pipe. If you intend to reuse the pipe, then weld it back together.
Any way you look at it, it will not be a easy time.
Fastest and easiest is to just cut the pipe. If you intend to reuse the pipe, then weld it back together.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
HEAT. If that doesn't work, use more heat. If it still doesn't want to come off...HEAT IT UP SOME MORE!!
It's all about getting it piping, glowing red hot. Maybe use a hammer and pry bar a little bit too.
There is no "magic" to it...just grunt work.
It's all about getting it piping, glowing red hot. Maybe use a hammer and pry bar a little bit too.
There is no "magic" to it...just grunt work.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
From: Asheboro NC
So it will definitely easier to pull the entire system out and lay it on the ground and do the work. I am very leary of the studs on the manifolds.
I soaked them with wd 40 forty today just in case.
Thanks for the tips guys. I will use heat and a grinder once I lay the exhaust on the the ground.
I soaked them with wd 40 forty today just in case.
Thanks for the tips guys. I will use heat and a grinder once I lay the exhaust on the the ground.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
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From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
If the heat just isn't doing it, let it cool down, and soak it with penetrating oil, like PB blaster, or wd-40, let it sit overnight. Next day, get the torch out again. Repeat as neccessary. If it were me, I'd sawzall the thing off and deal with the consequences. I just don't have the patients. I know, that's the hospital kind of patient, but I can't remember how to spell it the other way.
Scott
Scott
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
Use PB Blaster instead of WD40. WD40 is not as good, it is really a Water Displacement agent rather than a penetrating fluid.
The "blue flame wrench" will work, but you really need to have the exhaust pipes off the car to do this!! Still recommend slitting the pipes and using a cold chisel.....and I have a heavy duty welder, plasma torch, Oxygen/acetylene torch and other cutting tools! The crimp from the clamps on the outside pipe have to be expanded enough to clear the inside pipe.
The "blue flame wrench" will work, but you really need to have the exhaust pipes off the car to do this!! Still recommend slitting the pipes and using a cold chisel.....and I have a heavy duty welder, plasma torch, Oxygen/acetylene torch and other cutting tools! The crimp from the clamps on the outside pipe have to be expanded enough to clear the inside pipe.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
From: Asheboro NC
yeah but they charge for the whole hour. I'll drink a beer and hit it...heat it up drink a beer and hit it again... drink a beer while it cools down spray it... hit again.. drink another beer and put the Y pipe in the fork of a tree..tie a strap around the converter and the other end to the jeep and something is going to happen 
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
^^Sorry your in North Carolina, if you were local you'd see these guys are the real deal. I bought one system from them 3-4 years ago...they've never allowed me to pay them again for little repairs and adjustments since then. I have to force them to take $40 every now and again.
When I did my transmission, I broke the rear right muffler off....right at the pipe. I took it in to those guys at Fantasy....they welded it up for me and told me "no charge"...that's when I insisted on giving them something......
When I did my transmission, I broke the rear right muffler off....right at the pipe. I took it in to those guys at Fantasy....they welded it up for me and told me "no charge"...that's when I insisted on giving them something......
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,588
Likes: 10
From: North New Jersey
^^Sorry your in North Carolina, if you were local you'd see these guys are the real deal. I bought one system from them 3-4 years ago...they've never allowed me to pay them again for little repairs and adjustments since then. I have to force them to take $40 every now and again.
When I did my transmission, I broke the rear right muffler off....right at the pipe. I took it in to those guys at Fantasy....they welded it up for me and told me "no charge"...that's when I insisted on giving them something......
When I did my transmission, I broke the rear right muffler off....right at the pipe. I took it in to those guys at Fantasy....they welded it up for me and told me "no charge"...that's when I insisted on giving them something......
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
sortamy difs;
2 slits as near to 90* apart as possible is enuf...while cutting the slits, stop periodically and look at the bottom of your cut--as you cut thru the outer pipe and start into the inner pipe, you will see a pair of tiny black lines at the bottom of the cut (you're actually seeing the corrosion interface between the inner/outer pipes), do not cut deeper...slits only need to reach to where the clamp swaged the pipes together, no longer.
use an old flat-blade screwdriver as a chisel
to 'expand' the outer pipe at the slits rather than a cold chisel...the 'wedge' of the cold chisel is much greater than a screwdriver and makes for both more work and pipe damage.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
From: Asheboro NC
While I don't recommend this method here is how I got my exhaust components apart from the cat back. I already had the clamp loose in front of the cat and bolts behind the cat out. I put the bolts back in but not tight. I was working on the miss problem I had, so during a test drive the pressure and heat combined with the play I had left in the system it basically separated itself from the cat back to where I will be able to pull it all apart when I am ready.
although I am still have to tackle the manifold bolts at least the other parts have become a none issue.
although I am still have to tackle the manifold bolts at least the other parts have become a none issue.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
From: Asheboro NC
Today I pulled the entire exhaust system out. The bolts on the exhaust manifolds were surprising easy well at least 5 of the were. The stiffest one I decided to tackle it first. It was a labor of love. I found myself laughing at it many times. It started with one pop off then tighten then two pops off then tighten and so on. One of them the stud came out boy was I surprised. PB blaster and time and patience.
As I thought the main Cat was plugged up. Yesterday I put CV joints on my jeep liberty. That was not fun. Today was fun and good therapy.
As I thought the main Cat was plugged up. Yesterday I put CV joints on my jeep liberty. That was not fun. Today was fun and good therapy.
