I was reading on of the tech articles when I came accross the one for the catalytic converter gutting. My car has some of the symptoms that were described, so I decided to gut my first cat nearest the manifold. The problem arises from unscrewing the exhaust from the manifold. I have tried for the life of me everything I know to do this. Coming from below, from above, with a socket wrench, and a normal wrench, but the stupid thing will not budge. I must have spent around 2 hour yesterday trying a little bit this morning before I got to angry to do it anymore. I have used WD-40 and Rust remover on the bolt, but it still has no intentions of moving. I was wondering if anyone has had any success with removing their exhaust from the manifold, and what their methods were. Thanks in advance.
Put several extensions together and use a larger wrench to get more leverage on the bolts. Brace your body so you can get a better push on the wrench. Also get some penetration spray to help break the bolt loose, just let it sit for a little before you try again. Hope this helps, Dan
Soak it real good with PB Blaster, slide a 6-pt deep socket and 18" extension on the nut, tap the end of the extension a few times with a ball peen, then use a 1/2" breaker bar and alot of leverage and it WILL break loose!
Heat Heat the manifold up around the bolt holes. Try to keep from heating the bolt up as much as possible. The idea is to make the manifold expand away from the bolt. Possibly have a buddy heating it while you wiggle around under the car trying to break it loose. This usually works well.
You need an Impact wrench! If you do not have one go to some kind of garage and have them loosen them for you. But there is always the chance of breaking studs. Not much fun replacing hope this helps you.
When I was taking the exhaust off mine I got the top bolt off but the bottem one wouldent come off cause there was no threads on the end of the bolt... So we got it at an angle and beat the crap out of it with a 10 lbs sledgh hammer.... also if I switch to a ranger header will I be abel to use the ranger pipe to the muffler pipe?
Just to update on what I did. I tired all your suggestions save for the impact wrench with no success. I finally just used a friends sawzaw (spelling?) to cut the pipe right behind the first cat. I then got a crowbar and gutted it right there under the car. All I got out of the cat was grey, charred remains. Since the gutting, the car has been doing better. Although, after viewing the the inside of my first cat, I had decided to replace the second one as well. Hopefully, that one will be a bit easier. Thanks for all your help.
