Need help removing 3 bolts from drivers side CAT HELP!!
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
Re: Need help removing 3 bolts from drivers side CAT HELP!! (kawboy5792)
I assume your talking about the pipe that attaches to the exhaust manifold. If so, I just went through this problem last week myself. I soaked the bolts in Liquid Wrench for a couple of hours but still ended up breaking all 3 on the pass. side. I bent one on the driver's side pretty bad also. I decided to remove the manifolds from the engine...which I really didn't want to have to do. All I can say now is...I'm glad I did. I took the manifolds to a local muffler shop and the guy charged me $30 to torch out the old studs, and install thicker new ones with some stainless steel nuts and bolts. Driver's side manifold took 5 minutes to remove, pass. side is another story. Last bolt closest to the firewall is a @!#$%! No room to work. Hope this helps. ;)
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Iowa City IA
Re: Need help removing 3 bolts from drivers side CAT HELP!! (ACEMG73)
no, im talking about the three bolts after the catalytic converter that connect the cat to the exhaust system....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,466
Likes: 0
From: livin life one hold my beer moment at a time Houst Tx
Re: Need help removing 3 bolts from drivers side CAT HELP!! (ACEMG73)
A few weeks ago I snapped off 2 bolts off each side that connect to the manifold. Tried for 3 days to get them out when finally I just took the manifolds off and used a torch to heat em up and they came right out. Then went down to auto zone and bought 6 new studs and put in there, probably the best "mod" ive done to my car to date. Some good advice ive got for you is take out all 6 studs, drivers side and passenger side. Alot of work now but will save you a big headache in the future. Spend the ten bucks on 6 new studs and put em in.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,466
Likes: 0
From: livin life one hold my beer moment at a time Houst Tx
Re: Need help removing 3 bolts from drivers side CAT HELP!! (1bad85)
ah, well in that case just get a good socket to fit them and invest in an impact gun and an air compressor, thatll take em right out. worked for me.
[Modified by 1bad85, 6:13 AM 8/19/2002]
[Modified by 1bad85, 6:13 AM 8/19/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
Re: Need help removing 3 bolts from drivers side CAT HELP!! (kawboy5792)
kawboy,
Im in the same boat as you. I broke the studs off when I pulled my transmission. I tried heat, a easy out and nothing worked. I then drilled them out and retapped the hole, but I did not get it straight, so now I have a exhaust leak. It looks like I am going to have to pull the left converter and replace it. But Im afraid the top connection to the manifold is going to be the same, and it dosnt look like a very easy job to pull the exhaust manifold. By the way, the LT1 like you and I have, has a different exhaust setup then the L98. Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.
Im in the same boat as you. I broke the studs off when I pulled my transmission. I tried heat, a easy out and nothing worked. I then drilled them out and retapped the hole, but I did not get it straight, so now I have a exhaust leak. It looks like I am going to have to pull the left converter and replace it. But Im afraid the top connection to the manifold is going to be the same, and it dosnt look like a very easy job to pull the exhaust manifold. By the way, the LT1 like you and I have, has a different exhaust setup then the L98. Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 14,577
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From: Michigan in the summer, Florida the rest of the time
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'11
Re: Need help removing 3 bolts from drivers side CAT HELP!! (kawboy5792)
On my '96, I soked the bolts in Liquid Wrench for 24 hours, adding a bit more of the stuff every few hours. Maybe I got lucky, but mine came out without breaking.
Brad
Brad
