failed HFC install

Zsteve · 03-16-2010, 11:05 PM

Well I went to a shop today to get my HFCs installed and they got all the bolts but one, the driver side top one. Its stripped and they couldnt do anything else so we put it all back together. They said it was too tight an area for them to weld or cut.

So is it too tight to get in there to weld or cut? And if I can weld another bolthead on it still may not come off. They used all the right and best tools so I guess that thing is on tight. Plus Im not about to spend alot for a few hp.

Any suggestions on how to get it off?

Trips · 03-16-2010, 11:15 PM

can get in there and torch it off or a dremel with metal cut off disk remove the thread part of the stud and then use a nut extractor socket. I agree that one is PITA.

bluestyle55 · 03-16-2010, 11:16 PM

damn dude...that is shitty! When my buddy and I were installing my HFC the one bolt on the drivers side was the harderst to get at as well. After trying a combination of different attachments we decided to take the wheel off and try and get to it that way. It actually worked really well. What I am wondering is if you could get a saw in from that angle??? Did you try taking the wheel off? I know that method isnt mentioned in the DYI on this forum or other online how-to videos I found.

Zsteve · 03-16-2010, 11:17 PM

Ill have to find a place that is confident enough to try it. No didnt try with the wheel off, might have to try that with the welding or cutting. bolt is stripped good.

Plus my Cobb is on the way with a map with HFCs included. I guess Ill have to ask for a new tune if I cant get it off.

stiso · 03-16-2010, 11:24 PM

stripped 2 sockets and broke 1 breaker bar extention trying to get that fu#@ing bolt off, finally worked with a stripped bolt kit I got from sears, I don't know if this will work for ya but good luck, i know one guy on this site had to torch it off

Trips · 03-16-2010, 11:28 PM

people need to use a high impact swivel and a high impact deep socket so you don't round the nut I used 1/2'' ratchet sockets extentions

g96818 · 03-16-2010, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluestyle55

damn dude...that is shitty! When my buddy and I were installing my HFC the one bolt on the drivers side was the harderst to get at as well. After trying a combination of different attachments we decided to take the wheel off and try and get to it that way. It actually worked really well. What I am wondering is if you could get a saw in from that angle??? Did you try taking the wheel off? I know that method isnt mentioned in the DYI on this forum or other online how-to videos I found.

u know, i was thinking about going through the wheel well, but didn't know if there was an opening. thx

Xan · 03-16-2010, 11:50 PM

Can't you take of the headers with Cat's attached? And then fix it outside of the car?

JB-370z · 03-17-2010, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple's

can get in there and torch it off or a dremel with metal cut off disk remove the thread part of the stud and then use a nut extractor socket. I agree that one is PITA.

I could get that baby right off, happened to mine as well! I used a torch for almost a full minute over and over untill it came loose.

Red370 · 03-17-2010, 12:10 AM

yeah, me and the OP tried unsuccessfully this past weekend, so they made more progress than we did at the hobby shop, but damn Steve, this was a total downer, i wanted to hear that thing. Did they use any PB breakfree?

soCo · 03-17-2010, 12:30 AM

Is it just one bolt on the stock cats that make it a PITA? Sorry to hear, try taking a flame to it if you can get in there.

Red370 · 03-17-2010, 12:35 AM

almost like Nissan intentionally did something to prevent that one from coming out

soCo · 03-17-2010, 12:56 AM

I just looked at the DIY, looks like the first 5 steps take about a half an hour. The 6th step, with the bolts your talking about looks like it takes up the rest of the time.

g96818 · 03-17-2010, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB-370z

I could get that baby right off, happened to mine as well! I used a torch for almost a full minute over and over untill it came loose.

what u mean? u just heated the bolt up and loosened it? doesn't heat make metal expand?

Matt · 03-17-2010, 07:19 AM

It's certainly the same bolt that gives everyone trouble.

Clark had the same problem with mine, but after removing the intake boxes and rearranging some things, he was able to get enough room to do his magic. Mine may not have been as stuck as yours, however.

I wish you were back in Augusta so you'd have the Performance Center to check out. I'd keep putting something like PB Blaster on it, and try it again next weekend. My buddy had a similar issue, so he just sprayed it every day for a week, and had no issues when he went to remove it.

03-16-2010, 11:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: TX Posts: 3,298 Drives: the 2 balled club Rep Power: 22	failed HFC install Well I went to a shop today to get my HFCs installed and they got all the bolts but one, the driver side top one. Its stripped and they couldnt do anything else so we put it all back together. They said it was too tight an area for them to weld or cut. So is it too tight to get in there to weld or cut? And if I can weld another bolthead on it still may not come off. They used all the right and best tools so I guess that thing is on tight. Plus Im not about to spend alot for a few hp. Any suggestions on how to get it off? __________________ 2010 LS3 C6 Silver coupe corvette

03-16-2010, 11:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,732 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	can get in there and torch it off or a dremel with metal cut off disk remove the thread part of the stud and then use a nut extractor socket. I agree that one is PITA. __________________

03-16-2010, 11:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
bluestyle55 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pa Posts: 194 Drives: 09 Nissan 370z B 6M Rep Power: 16	damn dude...that is shitty! When my buddy and I were installing my HFC the one bolt on the drivers side was the harderst to get at as well. After trying a combination of different attachments we decided to take the wheel off and try and get to it that way. It actually worked really well. What I am wondering is if you could get a saw in from that angle??? Did you try taking the wheel off? I know that method isnt mentioned in the DYI on this forum or other online how-to videos I found. __________________ 2009 370z 6MT Touring w/ Sport Pkg \| Invidia Gemini CBE\| Stillen G3 CAI \| ERZ HFC's \|X-Pel Clear Bra \| 20% Tint

03-16-2010, 11:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: TX Posts: 3,298 Drives: the 2 balled club Rep Power: 22	Ill have to find a place that is confident enough to try it. No didnt try with the wheel off, might have to try that with the welding or cutting. bolt is stripped good. Plus my Cobb is on the way with a map with HFCs included. I guess Ill have to ask for a new tune if I cant get it off. __________________ 2010 LS3 C6 Silver coupe corvette Last edited by Zsteve; 03-16-2010 at 11:19 PM.

03-16-2010, 11:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
stiso Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: z Posts: 42 Drives: z Rep Power: 16	stripped 2 sockets and broke 1 breaker bar extention trying to get that fu#@ing bolt off, finally worked with a stripped bolt kit I got from sears, I don't know if this will work for ya but good luck, i know one guy on this site had to torch it off __________________ ...

03-16-2010, 11:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,732 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	people need to use a high impact swivel and a high impact deep socket so you don't round the nut I used 1/2'' ratchet sockets extentions __________________ Last edited by Trips; 03-16-2010 at 11:30 PM.

03-16-2010, 11:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
Xan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: MA Posts:99999999999999 Posts: 3,301 Drives: 370Z 40th Aniversary Rep Power: 24	Can't you take of the headers with Cat's attached? And then fix it outside of the car?

03-17-2010, 12:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
Red370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany Posts: 4,391 Drives: your mom to church Rep Power: 296	yeah, me and the OP tried unsuccessfully this past weekend, so they made more progress than we did at the hobby shop, but damn Steve, this was a total downer, i wanted to hear that thing. Did they use any PB breakfree? __________________ 2011 Mustang 5.0 \| 3.55's \| Lethal Performance off road H-Pipe \| Magnaflow Muffler Delete \| JLT CAI/Bama tuned 417whp/ 404 ft/lbs

03-17-2010, 12:30 AM	#11 (permalink)
soCo Base Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Philadelphia Age: 37 Posts: 146 Drives: 370z soon hopefully Rep Power: 15	Is it just one bolt on the stock cats that make it a PITA? Sorry to hear, try taking a flame to it if you can get in there. Last edited by soCo; 03-17-2010 at 12:35 AM.

03-17-2010, 12:35 AM	#12 (permalink)
Red370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany Posts: 4,391 Drives: your mom to church Rep Power: 296	almost like Nissan intentionally did something to prevent that one from coming out __________________ 2011 Mustang 5.0 \| 3.55's \| Lethal Performance off road H-Pipe \| Magnaflow Muffler Delete \| JLT CAI/Bama tuned 417whp/ 404 ft/lbs

03-17-2010, 12:56 AM	#13 (permalink)
soCo Base Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Philadelphia Age: 37 Posts: 146 Drives: 370z soon hopefully Rep Power: 15	I just looked at the DIY, looks like the first 5 steps take about a half an hour. The 6th step, with the bolts your talking about looks like it takes up the rest of the time.

03-17-2010, 07:19 AM	#15 (permalink)
Matt A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Augusta, GA Age: 41 Posts: 1,680 Drives: 2010 Avalanche LT Rep Power: 19	It's certainly the same bolt that gives everyone trouble. Clark had the same problem with mine, but after removing the intake boxes and rearranging some things, he was able to get enough room to do his magic. Mine may not have been as stuck as yours, however. I wish you were back in Augusta so you'd have the Performance Center to check out. I'd keep putting something like PB Blaster on it, and try it again next weekend. My buddy had a similar issue, so he just sprayed it every day for a week, and had no issues when he went to remove it. __________________ "Any man who can drive a 370z while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the Z the attention it deserves." Albert Einstein....modified.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
The Install Videos	SlikNik	Audio & Video	108	11-30-2015 11:15 AM
HFC install	g96818	Hawaii	30	08-11-2013 11:39 AM
Audio install on my Z!	takimbe	Audio & Video	22	03-16-2011 05:47 PM
Failed attempt at new muffler	ddvette9	Intake/Exhaust	32	12-06-2009 06:34 PM
ECU reset after CBE install?	spearfish25	Intake/Exhaust	3	10-11-2009 01:56 PM