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370Z Purist · 06-14-2012, 04:17 AM

Your test pipes will need the Y pipe gasket and the exhaust collector gasket, as well as nuts and bolts. What brand are your test pipes? I'm guessing you did a private buy because if you paid retail (i.e. bought new) for TPs without hardware, you were ripped off.

Stock cats are known to be insane to remove. If you have an open faced ratchet, you might find better results. I remember reading Bonnani's DIY and seeing him snake some ridiculous frankentool through the engine bay to break one of the bolts. They're probably torqued to a spec of "innumerable hellfires" pounds per foot. The fact that they're constantly heated and cooled, as well as exposed to dirt, water, moisture, salts, (road salts during the winter if you're unlucky), plus general wear and tear means they're probably in excess of 500 pounds per foot once they've completely rusted over to the point where the nut and bolt have become one with the cat and gasket. From the factory? It's probably a spec of maybe 30, although impact guns used with negligence means more like 60.

I'd probably just soak the bolts in a good amount of penetrant and let it sit for an hour or so. Just remember to let the car cool, and also to not start up the car afterwards.

06-14-2012, 04:17 AM	#18 (permalink)
370Z Purist A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Zion, Illinois Posts: 1,873 Drives: '09 370Z-T BS M6 Rep Power: 19	Your test pipes will need the Y pipe gasket and the exhaust collector gasket, as well as nuts and bolts. What brand are your test pipes? I'm guessing you did a private buy because if you paid retail (i.e. bought new) for TPs without hardware, you were ripped off. Stock cats are known to be insane to remove. If you have an open faced ratchet, you might find better results. I remember reading Bonnani's DIY and seeing him snake some ridiculous frankentool through the engine bay to break one of the bolts. They're probably torqued to a spec of "innumerable hellfires" pounds per foot. The fact that they're constantly heated and cooled, as well as exposed to dirt, water, moisture, salts, (road salts during the winter if you're unlucky), plus general wear and tear means they're probably in excess of 500 pounds per foot once they've completely rusted over to the point where the nut and bolt have become one with the cat and gasket. From the factory? It's probably a spec of maybe 30, although impact guns used with negligence means more like 60. I'd probably just soak the bolts in a good amount of penetrant and let it sit for an hour or so. Just remember to let the car cool, and also to not start up the car afterwards. __________________ -Phil "Since one of my brake light bulbs just went out, the forum told me that my piston rings are about to blow." Last edited by 370Z Purist; 06-14-2012 at 04:20 AM.