HELP! Cat converter won't separate from manifold
 

My catalytic converter (between the motor and the radiator) is bad. I removed the three bolts from the bottom and all the bolts and two nuts from the top of the cat. Four of the bolts from the top of the cat were unscrewed from underneath the car. The two nuts were removed from the top and seemed to hold the cat in place by studs.

With all that removed, the catalytic converter did not fall free. What am I missing? I am considering getting a crow bar and beating the hell out of it.

HELP!!!

You got it. A little friendly persuasion is what it needs. Between corrosion and electrolytic action, things stick together.

exhaust work sucks, corrosion and repeated heat cycles make it difficult to get things apart at times, i would try letting some penetrating oil soak in for a little bit.

after that you may still be finding that you need to "persuade" things to go the way you want.

good luck!

Soak it in PB blaster for a while, then use aggression/violence/brute force with the help of a crowbar...

how many nuts and bolts did you remove from the top?

At the top of the catalytic converter, from under the car there were four bolts to be removed and from the top of the car there were two nuts. So, a total of 6 nuts and bolts securing the top of the cat to the manifold. At the neck of the cat that connects to the B1 pre-cat there were three bolts that were removed.

any other suggestions?

Penetrant spray and a hammer...

Try more "persuasion"