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[lsm360]

Today I got to experience the fun of removing the old Y pipe.  Had to cut off the four bolts that hold the pipe to the manifold.  Overheated my Dremel and went thru several blades.  So hard to get to them, but finally finished cutting them just in time to shower and rush to work.  Tomorrow I will continue removing the rest of the rusted out exhaust.  Slowly but surely.

L

[Dippy.org]

[IronBrick]

I gotta do the same. Maybe when it gets warm.

[MyDodgeDip]

a torch helps a whole lot to do this.

[Woodvark]

I gotta do the same. Maybe when it gets warm.

I've never figured out how to get a torch on the right front bolt, at least without torching something else in the process. 

Took the Y pipe of of the 87 last weekend.  Torched both left side bolts.  Both right side came loose without any cutting, pounding, cussing or throwing tools. 

[rapple1124]

I can tell it's tough. I had to drop my exhaust to replace a few freeze out plugs at vocational school. I was lucky that I didn't need a torch to remove the bolts. Since my teacher and I decided not to cut the y-pipe with the mini-cats off, it was very hard getting it back up.
If the bolts are really stuck, try tightening them slightly first. Also, it may help to try giving the bolts a few hits with a hammer to loosen up the rust.
If you feel it turning hard and you know the head is about to snap, STOP! You have to use the torch now. Or you can try spraying lots of Liquid Wrench or some other type of penetrating spray. Of course, try to get the spray in the crack between the head and the pipe flange.
If you do snap the head off, don't have a fit yet. Drill a hole in the bolt and hammer in a screw extractor. Then unscrew the extractor.
When you finally get the bolts out, it wouldn't hurt to use a tap to clean out the holes.
If you had to drill the whole thing out, you must use a tap to make new threads. PLEASE, be sure you always back off to clean out the old shavings. If you snap off a tap, it will be EXTREMELY hard to drill out the tap because it is hardened steel.

[lsm360]

I can tell it's tough. I had to drop my exhaust to replace a few freeze out plugs at vocational school. I was lucky that I didn't need a torch to remove the bolts. Since my teacher and I decided not to cut the y-pipe with the mini-cats off, it was very hard getting it back up.
If the bolts are really stuck, try tightening them slightly first. Also, it may help to try giving the bolts a few hits with a hammer to loosen up the rust.
If you feel it turning hard and you know the head is about to snap, STOP! You have to use the torch now. Or you can try spraying lots of Liquid Wrench or some other type of penetrating spray. Of course, try to get the spray in the crack between the head and the pipe flange.
If you do snap the head off, don't have a fit yet. Drill a hole in the bolt and hammer in a screw extractor. Then unscrew the extractor.
When you finally get the bolts out, it wouldn't hurt to use a tap to clean out the holes.
If you had to drill the whole thing out, you must use a tap to make new threads. PLEASE, be sure you always back off to clean out the old shavings. If you snap off a tap, it will be EXTREMELY hard to drill out the tap because it is hardened steel.

Can't get a hammer in the tight space to hit the bolt heads or nuts. The corrision from previous owner driving it in snow has made it so you cannot even see the bolt threads anymore.  Despite that, I tried getting a socket on them and trying to loosen or tighten until they break.
Cutting was a last resort. 

[unclemike]

Are they bolts or studs with nuts? Every thing I have seems to be bolt and nut assembly.

[Ark]

Bolts and nuts.

[petebert]

If you verify the nut isnt loosening at all, some of mine actually came off fine. But for the ones that dont, get a breaker bar and just snap the damn things. Certainly not enough room down there to play around with a torch.

[DobaMark]

That's what I always wish for with those exhaust bolts.  If they won't loosen, I hope they snap.

[furrious]

On the drivers side we were able to get a cut off wheel in there with the starter removed. We were fortunate on the passenger side, the hardware came apart !! Otherwise the pass side would have been a mutha.

[lsm360]

If you have a Dremel with the extension wand and the right cutting disc will cut through it. 

Today I got the new pipe installed.  I had to widen it about a half an inch.  I guess they cannot make those things exact.  I just stuck the handle of a shovel down one the pipe on one side and pulled a little at a time until it moved a half inch.  After that, it was easy to bolt up.  Now I am taking a piece of pipe from the old Y Pipe and putting it in place of the main Cat using a couple of sleeves and some clamps.  Along with a new muffler, and I will be good to go.  I will have an exhaust shop weld things up.

L

[spike]

when we did the exhaust on my 5th we were able to torch all 4 bolts, then again we have a small portable set of torchs, so theyre a lil easier to get in them tight places

[88 dippy]

we got mine off no problem didn't even need a tourch just used a 3/8 drive rachet i even had studs in the manifold