I need your help

This will be a fairly short post but I genuinely need the help with the enemy of all car people...

RUST

No my car isn't loaded with rust but the nuts and bolts holding together the exhaust system are, which is a real problem since I'm trying to install a new cat-back system (details to come later... hint below)

I need your help-This will be a fairly short post but I genuinely need the help with the enemy of all car people...

[BC]RUS

Now getting to the rust

Pictured below is the nut/bolt combo which is holding the rest of the exhaust to the catalytic converter... as you can see it's full of rust!!

Now I started with spraying it down with a ton of penetrating fluid and then muckling ahold of it with a socket and ratchet.... it didn't budge a single bit. Then I tried using a butane torch to get it hot which didn't work either. Finally I grabbed my dremel and tried to cut the nut off but it was almost as if it was fused to the bolt with no defining difference between them when cutting.

What do I do!?

I can just cut the whole bolt off but then I don't know if the old connection is similar to the new system in that the connecting piece is an oval so the bolt can slip in and out easily when the nut is removed as you can see below.

I don't want to cut the bolt and then have the old system stuck on there because it might not be an oval shape connection but I also don't really want to bring it to a shop to have then remove it.

So...WHAT DO I DO?

If you guys have suggestions please help. Thanks for reading and I'll keep you guys updated.

~~Isaac (vette1999)~~

Likes (66)

Like 66

Comments (54)

Caleb Adams

Try double wrenching it

0 Reply 07/01/18

AVP198

On the Connection side of things. Look up the exhaust pieces for your car and compare the pictures and diagrams to the new Megan racing piece to see if the connections match up. Also consider buying exhaust gaskets. When I did my Megan Racing header the gasket they provided caused an exhaust leak and I had to buy a OEM gasket. They’re only a couple bucks.

1 Reply 06/19/18

AX5 Engineering Author

From the research I've done it appears that everything matches up. The system came with all new hardware and gaskets but I may have to look into that.

Plus it looks like I may end up needing to take it to my local exhaust shop for install. No matter what I try those studs just won't break free.

1 Reply 06/19/18

Justin

What holds the exhaust up? For my prelude it was just held in by rubber flanges, i actually dropped it after detaching it from the header

1 Reply 06/19/18

AX5 Engineering Author

It's held up by rubber hangers and an couple of braces but I'm trying to disconnect it from the cat since I'm installing a cat-back.

0 Reply 06/19/18

Justin

Reply to: vette1999

Does your catback have its own catalytic? Id even just drop it down to be honest. That way u can have more work instead of having it under the car. Save urself a couple hours and spend an hour.

1 Reply 06/19/18

AX5 Engineering Author

Reply to: Justin

No the new system doesn't have its own cat but that does sound like a good idea however all of the exhaust bolts are probably just as rusted on.

0 Reply 06/19/18

That one saab

You may have to do what I did just use a sawsall and cut the pipe out then replace it with new bolts and pipe

1 Reply 06/19/18

Read 2 more replies

AX5 Engineering Author

Reply to: Ryubishi

Yeah I've seen that too so before I resort to cutting it off I'll probably try that and a few other things.

0 Reply 06/19/18

That one saab

Reply to: vette1999

Good luck hope you don't end up having to do what I did and replace the whole exhaust (I got a performance exhaust anyway but still)

1 Reply 06/19/18

AX5 Engineering Author

Reply to: Ryubishi

Thanks! Eventually I would like to replace the whole system but I really don't want to spend that money at the moment.

0 Reply 06/19/18

scorpgiant2

Cut it for example right against the bolt like where I drew the line. It will remove a good portion of the bolt.and the rest of it will come off with a pipe wrench or maybe a chisel.