Dow.tom

iTrader: (3)

Hey everyone im changing my headgasket and i need to move my manifold. However the bolts are stripped to the downpipe brace and i cant fit a wheel grinder in there. Are there any other ideas to taking it out..? I dont care if it gets broken, i wont use it on my turbo downpipe. Also, i can get the bottom Tranny bolt, but not the top one..

Mach929

iTrader: (3)

take the trans bolts out that hold it down and undo the downpipe from the cat and pull the whole thing out the top

UofACATS

iTrader: (1)

I cut mine out with a sawzall

Dow.tom

iTrader: (3)

can a sawzall really cut through that, i guess that's my next step.

UofACATS

iTrader: (1)

yeah. Get under it, and use a shorter blade.

Dow.tom

iTrader: (3)

im guessing you cut where the 2 bolts are? Really can't tell from the picture. Alrighty, now i've got a grin on my face heh. Also, any idea on how to take the head off once that's done? I have all the bolts off. Scott said to rock back and forth until the "seal" is broken.

UofACATS

iTrader: (1)

What's left of the brace

UofACATS

iTrader: (1)

Taking off a head is tricky sometimes. Just depends on the car. No good advice from me, I think (I can't recall anything anymore) I tapped it with a rubber hammer and nothing happened, but that might be completly wrong. It's not going to "shake" loose. It should just lift off nice n easy, but it probably wont. Good advice I know.

I think just applying slow, even pressure on one side lifting straight up ended up working.

I'd just listen to Scott.

Dow.tom

iTrader: (3)

thanks for the advice, i'll tackle it tomorrow.