Gutting Problems

[99SilverCougarV6]

I went to begin gutting my precats and when i tryed to unscrew bolts i noticed they were all rusted! The more i tryed to loosen them the more i stripped em. Any ideas what i could do?

[DanG]

Copious amounts of Liquid Wrench of WD-40 are called for... Short of that, you'll need to replace the bolts if they're so bad that they won't go back on... Remember to use a sh!tload of anti-seize compound when putting them back on- It'll also act as a lubricant while you're tightening them down...

[eurocrisp]

If you have air tools, its not difficult to cut the nut off and then just hammer or drill the bolt out. When I put my exhaust on i used all new stainless hardware... when I get my Y-Pipe and gut my precats ill do the same.

[Fett]

PB Blaster is your friend. Spray it on, let it sit for a while, then get to work.

[ignernt]

Yep, PB Blaster, like $4 from Wal*Mart. :)

[Aries]

Are you stripping the head or the threads?

[B3NN3TT]

Oh, God bless the air tools...

[EllenD]

I looked under mine this weekend and noticed the same thing, they're all rusted to hell. So I guess when I get my exhaust system I'll have to use the PB blaster stuff too. The bolts are almost gone there's so much rust. Another question, sort of on topic, but when I looked at the main cat the pipe going into it looks like it's welded in, then it goes to the first joint. I'm assuming when you put a cat-back system on it starts at that first joint and you still use the pipe that's coming out of the cat. Correct me if I'm wrong on this.

[Blackcoog]

If they are stripped and you can still get at the end of the stud you can use a very small socket to turn the stud out of the head.