Cyrus9586
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2018
- Messages
- 16
- Reaction score
- 0
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- Location
- Portland Oregon
- Vehicle Year
- 87
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 2.9l v6
- Transmission
- Automatic
So my muffler well was no longer a muffler. It was stock 30 year old muffler (as per my other post I think this whole thing is) and it had a fist sized hole form in it. Tail pipe was rusted out and it wouldn't pass DEQ so I said screw it. I ordered a new system from Macutoparts.com for 320$. It showed up. Looks rough but I cleaned it up nice.
The problem is the old system. 30 years was not kind. A sawzall and 4 hours later I have everything removed BUT the flange that connects the cat to the exhaust. for obvious reason I need to adjoining flange intact so the new cat can bolt on. Problem is 30 years of rust and corrosion and the 3 bolts are fused.
My current plan is to try to get the sawzall between the 2 flanges and just hope I cut the bolts since the old gasket is pretty much rotted to just around the bolts. But there is a problem reaching bolt #3 on top nearest the frame. I don't see any way to easily reach it to do anything to it. I mean even when I get this whole thing out I don't know how I am going to get the new bolt and nut in.
Anyone ran into this and has some pointers? Before I use the heavy method I'm going to give the torch one more go as well since it may burn off some rust to help get the sawzall in if all else fails. Where I cut the old cat off there is about 2-3 inches of pipe left.
Thanks for reading.
The problem is the old system. 30 years was not kind. A sawzall and 4 hours later I have everything removed BUT the flange that connects the cat to the exhaust. for obvious reason I need to adjoining flange intact so the new cat can bolt on. Problem is 30 years of rust and corrosion and the 3 bolts are fused.
My current plan is to try to get the sawzall between the 2 flanges and just hope I cut the bolts since the old gasket is pretty much rotted to just around the bolts. But there is a problem reaching bolt #3 on top nearest the frame. I don't see any way to easily reach it to do anything to it. I mean even when I get this whole thing out I don't know how I am going to get the new bolt and nut in.
Anyone ran into this and has some pointers? Before I use the heavy method I'm going to give the torch one more go as well since it may burn off some rust to help get the sawzall in if all else fails. Where I cut the old cat off there is about 2-3 inches of pipe left.
Thanks for reading.