Well it was a nice day so I thought it'd be a good day to install my pacesetter sts, and it looks to be an easy install, but of course I cant seperate the exhaust from catalytic converter.The bolts are all rusted on. I must have sprayed to cans of wd-40 on those things and neither one will budge an inch. Anyone have an ideas how to get these things off? I'd hate to have to pay someone to install this for me.

 

There is a product called Liquid Wrench that you could try. I don't know anywhere to buy it, but I'd check at your local auto-parts store. Also if one of your friends has airtools then those would do the trick.
Good luck

 

This is what I did:

I place the car on tripodes to lift it high enough so I can crawl underneith.
I used a butane torch to heat the nuts (not the bolts). This allows the nuts to expand while the bolt keeps (reasonably speaking) the same diameter.
I crawled out and from the side I place the wrench and socket on the bolt so that it hangs down with enough space to move (make sure it is tight). On my side I sled under the side of the car and placed my foot on the wrench and pressed slowly but steady on it until I felt the nut get loose (will take some effort). I repeated this once more (to make sure the nut was lose) and continue taking the nut out later from under the car. I repeated the steps with the other nut. Keep in mind that the nuts are of different sizes (at least mine were).
Make sure you put anti-sieze before you assemble the stuff together.

But, you might not need to do this at all!
You could bend the heat shield ears inward and slide it around the exhaust. You have to be a bit tough and not think about the heat shield for a while but it will be ok once reassembled.
Slight it around the exhaust and you will see the fork and shifter nuts there.
It might be tight to work, but you could do it.

--------------------- WARNING ---------------------------
Be fully aware that working with fire under a car may be dangerous and cause serious personal injuries (you may catch on fire if you do not know how to operate and handle the torch specially in tight quarters.) It may also result in property damage. Likewise performing the torque technique may result in an personal injury (in this case your foot and leg.) In general these are risky operations.
If you decide to use the torch and torque technique described you are doing so fully knowledgeable of these risks and act on your initiative. I am not liable.
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--------------------- WARNING ---------------------------
Be fully aware that working with fire under a car may be dangerous and cause serious personal injuries (you may catch on fire if you do not know how to operate and handle the torch specially in tight quarters.) It may also result in property damage. Likewise performing the torque technique may result in an personal injury (in this case your foot and leg.) In general these are risky operations.
If you decide to use the torch and torque technique described you are doing so fully knowledgeable of these risks and act on your initiative. I am not liable.
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This has nothing to do with this thread, so im sorry...but is this the day and age we live in, that we give advice/personal experiences and then have to give a disclamer? wow...if i took a torch under my car and burned myself/blew up my car, i would definatly not be looking for people to sue. people must be DIRTBALLS in this world.

Carlos, im not flaming you/attacking you one (1) bit. it just kind of made me sick that you have to protect yourself like that from the slimeballs of this world...i was hoping they hadnt found this board yet ;(

Casey

 

I know it's absurd to have to put a disclaimer, but I woudn't be surprised if someone would try and sue him if he got hurt or something. So I don't think it's a bad idea at all.

 

I'm not sure if the STS shifter goes in differently than the Stillen shifter, but all I had to remove was the heat shield when I installed the Stillen shifter in my car. You may just want to try to install the shifter without removing the exhaust system.

 

I have in the past given advice without the disclaimer. Later I have heard of a case where a person in another forum (I forget which) gave advice and a guy got hurt. Now the guy that was hurt had honestly accepted that he acted on his own initiative (the gentleman's agreement) but a "friend of the family" knew an abulance chaser that promised lots of money to the victim?. Now the guy still didn't want to go further but the father and other "relatives" insited and had the friend start the legal proceedings (unbeknowst to the injured enthusiast) and soon all turned into a snow ball.
I am an adult and act on my own decisions and would never cross or break the code of honor of the group members (specially in the case of hand modifications) but there are other people (even from other groups not related in any way to the maxima group) that would not.
You are right. There are slimeballs that would rather blaim others for their failures and limitations, and others that are ready to make a quick buck any way possible.
The disclaimer is that (a disclaimer) but also a reminder of the caveats of doing something that could hurt (lets call it a friendly "watch out")

 

I just wanted to thank everyone for taking the time to give some advice. I have access to an air wrench which I will be giving a try this coming weekend, and if that fails I may try to torch if I can get the use if one from somewhere, but thanks again.