Anybody know how much a cat removal/hfc instal should/would run me??? I tried myself with some tools i acquired...14 mm deep, extension and breaker bar, elbow and half the bolts still wouldn't budge...so i'm going with option B...get a shop to do it...

 

Cost me around $75. Depends on what shop. Should be an hour, to an hour and a half.

 

I paid $80. Figure $160 since you f-upped the bolts.

 

just couldn't budge em...i didn't mess them up, maybe one by the exhaust(y pipe) that was too close for the 14mm lug and tried the ratchet...too bad they couldn't have made it easy and put all the bolts toward the cats...prec the input...

 

You're always so negative.

 

Up your breaker bar to 1/2" drive and after a night of soaking with PB Blaster man the *** up and knock it out. My car is an 03 so it has had the most time to adhere as anybody and I knocked it out with little issues. You need a 1/2" swivel, 20" extension, 10" swivel style extension, 14mm wrench and 8 replacement bolts/nuts. Obviously this is just what I used but it worked out great for me. Some will say you can do it all from the bottom side but I thought it was much easier from the engine bay with the extensions.

 

Just kidding about the $160 since you f-upped the bolts thing.

 

Also try to use a BIG cheater bar. But if it is stripped then this is no help.

 

so a 20" exten. and a 1/2" breaker bar....damn....ok, i'll try again...what do you recommend for the bolt that's too close to the exhaust to use the 14mm lug with...wrench won't work...just smooths out the bolt, trust me bro, I'm ttryin to man up! freakin japanese bolt placement is kickin my ***...i have an 03 track, too - thanks for the input, though

 

you need to find a small asian person preferably Japanese (smaller hands) and pb blaster is a must just keep spraying it every hour or so a day before you plan to attack this. also if you can use your foot its probably stronger then your arm. trust me it works

 

i used the 14 deep everywhere i beleive, on some of them by the y pipe i dont remember, might not need to be deep, did u try to use a normal 14? i cant remember right now thinking about it...tellin ya man, u just need a cheater bar on the end of a breaker bar and get some leverage...work them out...i have a 03 and did this after the car had 32k miles, trust me they were in there good...

 

i did them all from the bottom like i said, say u are doing driver side, lay under the car with your legs coming out from under the driver side tire at that angle getting the top 3 bolts...for the top one go on the right side of the steering stem and u can feel around and get the 14 deep on there and then use the cheater bar try to find a thin one so u can get more room to go with it..break it loose..same way for the bottom right bolt...u gotta change the extensions up on them..idk man wish u were closer id give u a hand but it is do-able trust me, and u will feel like godzilla after..lol

 

+1 If you wanna drive to Columbus GA we can knock it out in my apt. complex parking lot! G/L brother and just make sure the 14 is ALL the way on before giving it the business. (I noticed that it was tough to get the socket on flush even with the swivel) on the bottom bolt on the top side of the cats. Let us know how it turns out! Oh and you may want to just buy new gaskets to start. (I used the old ones and they leaked so after a week of waiting to get the new ones in I had to re-due everything over.) Ugh. Again g/l and keep us posted.

 

Just re-read this. Maybe try and get a good 12pt. socket with the swivel being the next piece before extension. Probably too rounded to do any good but worth a shot. Also if you are able "too get on it" at all try heating it up with a torch on ONE SIDE of the bolt. (as opposed to all around) This will aid in the removal without simply twisting it off. Although that may be for the best! You only need to save 2 of the 14mm nuts out of 10 anyhow so give it the business. Oh ya and if I am remembering correctly there should be NO wrenches at this point just the extension and breaker bar! If you have yet to do anything from the top side, do so and update us I bet they will have came loose...

 

haha..i have an 04 and yup they are a beesh...old *** nuts..get a strip kit if it isnt too late

 

good info need to put mine in soon.

 

dude how far is columbia from beaufort, ill do it for you
ive done it twice so far

plus here on base i have access to a lift and plenty of impact tools

 

Haha I should have probably checked this out at Ft. Benning prior to the neck breaker in the lot! You are talking about the self-help place right?

 

yes when i was at pendleton there were 2 hobby shops and theres one here but yeah would assume that every military installation has one

 

I paid 50.00 to get my test pipes installed.