What's the easiest way to remove the nuts from the manifold studs - heat, impact wrench, bring it to garage?

Thinking about replacing my own, but in central NY bolts and nuts tend to rust pretty badly. I did have this replaced twice before, so maybe they aren't rusted too bad.

Any suggestions welcome. Have to do the 90 and 95 Max.

Thanks,
Tim

 

day before, soak the bolt with liquid wrench or something like that. Best way for me is an impact gun, but if they are rusted on there, you might just have to torch them off.

 

Thanks, I just hope the studs don't break off.

Thought I would use an impact wrench also. If that doesn't work, then I'll bring it to a garage - no torch around here.

Tim

 

Just use a dremel tool to cut the bolts off and then use duck tape to secure the pipe on

 

If your car is anything like mine, i got the top end of the y-pipe off no problem. HOWEVER, the bolts on the cat were impossible and i ended up breaking them and having to drill out new holes in the cat. In short, i'm currenlty waiting for a new catalytic converter from warpspeed.

 

My cat bolts were replaced by bolt and nut a few years back due to rust.

I'll be replacing the cat also with a cheaper one. Only plan on keeping the car another two years at best. It's a 90 I got new, so it has many, many upstate NY winters on it. Runs great, but road salt has been taking it's toll on it.

Tim

 

yup.. the bolts on the flanges are usually pretty bad looking, but they're not terribly hard to remove. impact wrench is what I've found to be the best on rusted bolts like on the exhaust. the impact tends to break the bonds on the rust and the two metal pieces begin to turn and come right out. when you put them back in, be sure to use some anti-sieze. it'll last several years before they rust over again..

 

Replaced the front pipe, cat and front bracket yesterday. Took about 3 hours from start to test drive.

Used an impact wrench on the manifold studs/nuts and actually cut off the bolts used to hold the cat to the rear pipe. The O2 sensor was replaced just a couple of years ago, came right out (used anti-seize at the time). The rear manifold studs are corroding much more than the front, but didn't have to be replaced yet.

Ended up using stainless steel bolts, washers, nuts and anti-seize on everything just in case it has to be repaired again before I get rid of the car.

Tim