HELP!! Rounded PITA top CAT bolt

370Zsteve · 01-06-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phantom21

Well, I took it to The Performance Center in Augusta, GA and these good ol country boys got it off. There is no way I could have gotten it off. They could not break it loose with "conventional" tools either. Ultimately, the certified blue tip wrench tech stepped in to cut the head of the bolt off. Unfortunately, he was unable to pull the O2 trigger to start cutting, so all he could do was literally melt the head of the bolt. That finally disfigured the head of the bolt enough that a socket would hold and enough heat to bust it loose. Even after it was broke loose it was no cake walk. It almost looks like the bolt thread has a bur on it or was slightly cross threaded. But, I'm in business now...onto the G3's. Here is the aftermath...

When in doubt, find a pro! Congrats on the evil bolt.

Trips · 01-06-2010, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phantom21

Well, I took it to The Performance Center in Augusta, GA and these good ol country boys got it off. There is no way I could have gotten it off. They could not break it loose with "conventional" tools either. Ultimately, the certified blue tip wrench tech stepped in to cut the head of the bolt off. Unfortunately, he was unable to pull the O2 trigger to start cutting, so all he could do was literally melt the head of the bolt. That finally disfigured the head of the bolt enough that a socket would hold and enough heat to bust it loose. Even after it was broke loose it was no cake walk. It almost looks like the bolt thread has a bur on it or was slightly cross threaded. But, I'm in business now...onto the G3's. Here is the aftermath...

Sounds Good!

I unfortunately Didn't have it kick my Ass, but was lucky enough to break it off with a breaker bar....

Liquid_G · 01-13-2010, 02:23 PM

Hey Phantom21.. do you (or anyone else here) know the size of that bolt? Both of mine sheared off and need to get them replaced. Thanks

Trips · 01-13-2010, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liquid_G

Hey Phantom21.. do you (or anyone else here) know the size of that bolt? Both of mine sheared off and need to get them replaced. Thanks

14mm bolts

Liquid_G · 01-13-2010, 10:01 PM

right i know its a 14mm hex head on the bolt, but was kinda looking for the thread size. no big deal though, realized i dont need them.. found the bolts that came with the FI HFC's.

btw those bolts are like 6 bux a piece from the dealer. 6 dollars for a bolt.. wow

Trips · 01-13-2010, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liquid_G

right i know its a 14mm hex head on the bolt, but was kinda looking for the thread size. no big deal though, realized i dont need them.. found the bolts that came with the FI HFC's.

btw those bolts are like 6 bux a piece from the dealer. 6 dollars for a bolt.. wow

What the hell! Are they titanium?

phantom21 · 01-15-2010, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple's

What the hell! Are they titanium?

As much as I agree 6 bucks is outrageous for an exhaust bold, I do think they must be Ti. I kept my $130 PITA bolt only as a conversation keep sake. I was going to use some HDD magnets to hold it to my desk and found out that the bolt has no magnetism on the head of the bolt and VERY little attraction on the threaded end or vise versa.

spearfish25 · 01-15-2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phantom21

As much as I agree 6 bucks is outrageous for an exhaust bold, I do think they must be Ti. I kept my $130 PITA bolt only as a conversation keep sake. I was going to use some HDD magnets to hold it to my desk and found out that the bolt has no magnetism on the head of the bolt and VERY little attraction on the threaded end or vise versa.

How much does the bolt weigh? If it doesn't have much 'heft' it may be titanium. More likely it's just stainless steel. With these bolts shearing, rounding, and being meltable, they sound like they're aluminum. All three of these options would be non-magnetic (as long as the SS is high enough quality ie low ferrous content).

JoeyD · 01-15-2010, 11:32 AM

Aluminum bolt? If so that was really dumb (or intentional to keep us from tampering). Aluminum and Steel(the flange and threads) when heat cycled repeatedly will fuse. Fuse=sux

Glad you got it off. I'm loving the idea of Long Tube Headers so I don't have to mess with these suckers.

abakja1 · 01-18-2010, 06:51 PM

THIS SUCKS!!

My Driver side 14mm head also rounded off...and the Sears bolt extractor socket doesnt work either....I completed passanger side and cant finish her off...

Did you drive to the exhaust shop with 1 HF Cat and one regular one??
Damn Nissan Gorillas with their torque guns....

frick!

Trips · 01-18-2010, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abakja1

THIS SUCKS!!

My Driver side 14mm head also rounded off...and the Sears bolt extractor socket doesnt work either....I completed passanger side and cant finish her off...

Did you drive to the exhaust shop with 1 HF Cat and one regular one??
Damn Nissan Gorillas with their torque guns....

frick!

you might want to have it cut off, now I don't know how strict they are their but if they don't want to remove them for legal reasons have just cut off the bolt and drive back home to remove it, if there pretty cool take the cat and have them install it.. good luck

Chris@FsP · 01-18-2010, 11:53 PM

Heat it up with a torch before you cut anything off!

DIGItonium · 01-19-2010, 12:10 AM

My installer used a blow torch and slowly worked it loose with air tools. I asked if he broke at least 1 bolt, and he never did. I think he re-used the bolts when he put my stock cats back on as well.

abakja1 · 01-19-2010, 01:02 AM

I actually spent the time to do the install in my garage today and started at about 1030am...I was at the finish line at 1pm with the last bolt to break loose and it stripped..PB Blast or not, it is stuck and its hexagon shaped head rounded...

I really dont know how anyone can get a torch in on the driver side since the steering rod is close by and are there some fuel lines too? Anyways,..Im going to take it to an exhaust shop next Saturday to get it off...

It's time like this I like working on my Subie,..exhaust all acccessible..+1 for boxer engines...

Trips · 01-19-2010, 01:13 AM

try a short extractor socket 1/2'' and bang into the sripped head of the bolt and use a high impact universal with long extnsions with a 3/4'' adapter with a 3/4'' breaker bar you need help one to keep the socket from slipping out and the other to break it free... I mentioned high impact universal swival due to regular ones snapping even the 14mm socket should be high impact I broke two craftsman sockets trying to break the top bolt free.... if too much trouble have a muffler shop deal with it..

01-15-2010, 11:32 AM	#54 (permalink)
JoeyD Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Raeford, NC Posts: 305 Drives: 09 NISMO 370Z Rep Power: 186	Aluminum bolt? If so that was really dumb (or intentional to keep us from tampering). Aluminum and Steel(the flange and threads) when heat cycled repeatedly will fuse. Fuse=sux Glad you got it off. I'm loving the idea of Long Tube Headers so I don't have to mess with these suckers. __________________ When was the last time you did 230MPH in something with 4 seats?

01-19-2010, 12:10 AM	#58 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 43	My installer used a blow torch and slowly worked it loose with air tools. I asked if he broke at least 1 bolt, and he never did. I think he re-used the bolts when he put my stock cats back on as well. __________________

01-19-2010, 01:13 AM	#60 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,732 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	try a short extractor socket 1/2'' and bang into the sripped head of the bolt and use a high impact universal with long extnsions with a 3/4'' adapter with a 3/4'' breaker bar you need help one to keep the socket from slipping out and the other to break it free... I mentioned high impact universal swival due to regular ones snapping even the 14mm socket should be high impact I broke two craftsman sockets trying to break the top bolt free.... if too much trouble have a muffler shop deal with it.. __________________

01-13-2010, 02:23 PM	#48 (permalink)
Liquid_G A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago Burbs Posts: 1,439 Drives: 09 370z Supercharged Rep Power: 44	Hey Phantom21.. do you (or anyone else here) know the size of that bolt? Both of mine sheared off and need to get them replaced. Thanks

01-13-2010, 10:01 PM	#50 (permalink)
Liquid_G A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago Burbs Posts: 1,439 Drives: 09 370z Supercharged Rep Power: 44	right i know its a 14mm hex head on the bolt, but was kinda looking for the thread size. no big deal though, realized i dont need them.. found the bolts that came with the FI HFC's. btw those bolts are like 6 bux a piece from the dealer. 6 dollars for a bolt.. wow

01-18-2010, 06:51 PM	#55 (permalink)
abakja1 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hawaii Posts: 351 Drives: STI, MDX, Titan Rep Power: 305	THIS SUCKS!! My Driver side 14mm head also rounded off...and the Sears bolt extractor socket doesnt work either....I completed passanger side and cant finish her off... Did you drive to the exhaust shop with 1 HF Cat and one regular one?? Damn Nissan Gorillas with their torque guns.... frick!

01-18-2010, 11:53 PM	#57 (permalink)
Chris@FsP Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 430 Drives: 2008 350Z TT Rep Power: 369	Heat it up with a torch before you cut anything off!

01-19-2010, 01:02 AM	#59 (permalink)
abakja1 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hawaii Posts: 351 Drives: STI, MDX, Titan Rep Power: 305	I actually spent the time to do the install in my garage today and started at about 1030am...I was at the finish line at 1pm with the last bolt to break loose and it stripped..PB Blast or not, it is stuck and its hexagon shaped head rounded... I really dont know how anyone can get a torch in on the driver side since the steering rod is close by and are there some fuel lines too? Anyways,..Im going to take it to an exhaust shop next Saturday to get it off... It's time like this I like working on my Subie,..exhaust all acccessible..+1 for boxer engines...