Incredibly stupid problem
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Liberty Missouri
Incredibly stupid problem
I was hanging my new exhaust sysytem tonight, and when I went to align the hangar to the two bolts that hang down in the back end, I hit them with the muffler and they both popped up into the frame. I didn't even know they were loose like that. Short of taking the car apart, I can't see any way to reach into the frame and retrieve them... I tried with wire for a good hour, but finally gave up. Any advice? 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
Likes: 8
From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I know exactly what you're talking about. But the 3 times I changed out systems I lucked out and didn't experience what you did. But I did see the opportunity. Hopefully someone with first hand experience will chime in. Here's a bump for you.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
You can buy the expandable "nuts" that they use in body shops. Measure the hole diameter to get the right size. The "nut" stays in the hole and you can screw the new bolts up into the "nuts".
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30,263
Likes: 4,577
From: Bonita Springs, Florida
You will have to use a magnet and a lot of patience. On later C5's I believe 2000's and newer, each bolt has a type of lock washer holding the bolts in place to prevent that from happening. Interestingly my current '99 had the washers on the bolts on only one side when I took off the stock exhaust at 1800 miles even though it was an early model with a Jan '99 build date.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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Hope you can get the bolts back in place. Has to be frustrating. 
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