Gonna replace piston rings this spring, early summer...this looks like trouble....

[jimdigs]

...exhaust down pipe bolts are very rusty and looks like if there will be a major hold up it will be this. Any suggestions for getting 20 plus year rusty exhaust bolts off? Thanks, Jim

[navdoc101]

Start treating them with PB Blaster now.
Spray heavy every couple of days.

[Festy46]

Heat them red hot with a torch and they should come off fairly easy.

[WmWatt]

Wire brush(es) and broken off hacksaw blade work well cleaning up rust around bolts for me.
I have convinced myself that cleaning up rust provides better access for penetrating oil.
No proof of that, though. Some advise hitting bolt to help penetrating oil penetrate.
An impact wrench is supposed to help. It hammers away torquing the bolt to break it free
without damaging the nut. Too much steady leverage can snap the bolt which may not be a
problem if it's a free standing bolt. Just drive the broken bolt out. Worst is rounded nut but
them there's a nut splitter. More than one way to skin a cat.

[koRnhead]

Don't bother with them....leave the downpipe on the manifold and pull it together....your have less trouble with manifold studs then that

[shadetree]

^ just pull manifold off the head . Pry it back and move on.

[jimdigs]

Don't bother with them....leave the downpipe on the manifold and pull it together....your have less trouble with manifold studs then that

Now there is a thought. The nuts on the cat. look a lot better than these. So I could pull it all out from the cat. to the manifold and leave the downpipe attached? Just need a manifold gasket if I do that.

[lessersivad]

Start treating them with PB Blaster now.
Spray heavy every couple of days.

^^^^ THIS....

[bravekozak]

I remember I had to use my 32" pipe wrench to remove the old studs (without heat) from the stock exhaust manifold. Use anti-seize compound on the threads of your new studs.

[koRnhead]

Reuse the gasket it's metal.....unless it's in just horrible condition. You also most likely can just cut the cat out and cash in.....might break even on your work. Lol