I tried replacing the shift unit today, but couldn't get the damn bolts off of the cat !!! They were rusted on and pretty tight...guess I'll have to go to the dealer and pay $$$

 

rusted? how can that be

 

I say spray a good amount of WD40 or some type of rust loosening spray, let it sit and work and then try again. If not get a breaker bar or impact wrench and get it off.

Dixit

 

Tried the WD-40 and the Liquid Wrench...The problem are the nuts on the bolts. They are so rusted that I can't get a grip on them with a socket. I also tried a vise grip (I think that's what they are called) and hitting that with a hammer. Any attempt to remove the nuts holding the cat in only stripped them even more. This sucks.

 

Damn, first off I dont know why they so rusted to that point. Something is wrong there. But even them, if you use a hammer to get a socket on one side and then use a hammer to get a closed end wrench on the other, that should do it. Now like I said, if you had an impact wrench or access to an electical one, you would get it off in a jiffy.

 

I took my car to a local muffler shop...try to find one that is not too busy. You need to just use his lift for about 30 minutes. I tried like hell to get those bolts loose too, but from your back under the car it is a task to say the least. The muffler guy can take those bolts out in seconds and you are home free from there. The guy I went to charged me 20 bucks and he even cut the hole in the convertor heat shield for me. Whatever you do....do not go to a dealer or someplace that knows what this mod would cost to put in! My dealer told me 160 bucks....when he saw that I had it in later he had to ask "How much to get it installed?" I just laughed.

I don't care how high you jack the car up and put it on jack stands...you can't beat a lift...and then you can see how everything works and you can get it right the first time!

What type of shifter did you get? I got the SMC and it kicks azz. Set it for the shortest throw...you will be happy. BTW...I have a profile view of my shifter on my homepage.

 

Sounds like a good idea...I got a new automatic shift unit no stick for me. I am one of those guys who tried to put the AE auto shifter onto the 2000 before we all knew it wasn't gonna happen. I basically chopped up parts of my shift unit trying to get the damn shifter on but it wasn't happening.

So I should go to a muffler shop or any garage and just ask them if they can take my cat out for me and then put it back? I think it would only take me like 30 minutes to change out the shifter once the cat is off, but how should I approach the guy at the shop? "Hey can I rent your lift for 40 minutes? Oh and a mechanic and some tools, too"

 

Just talk to the guy the first time you go by. Let him know what you would like to do and see if he is interested in helping you out. Don't talk about the price unless he brings it up. If he brings it up tell him that you were given an estimate from xxx for 40 bucks and let him make the call if he wants to beat it. You can bring your own tools...you don't need much, but my guy let me use his. I let him think he was doing most of the work until he got the cat bolts off and then I took over because I wanted to getrdun!