Date:         Sat, 8 Oct 2011 13:21:23 -0700
Reply-To:     Angus Gordon <birdworks@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Angus Gordon <birdworks@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Exhaust fun never ends
Comments: To: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To:  <1318101291.23841.YahooMailClassic@web110615.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252

Heat, combined with with a real stud extractor will be much more effective
than vice-grips. Use the opportunity to buy the proper tool - it'll be
cheaper in the long run vs removing the head.

Angus



Angus Gordon
Bainbridge Island WA

www.wordless.me



On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 12:14 PM, Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@yahoo.com>wrote:

> Finally finished my roof this week by taking two nice October vacation days
> thereby freeing me up to pursue the exhaust replacement on the Westy, which
> I undertook in earnest this morning.  I had done the muffler and tailpipe a
> couple of years ago and am now doing the four main pipes upstream of the
> cat.  Although I could find no receipt for it in the paper pile from the two
> previous owners, this system must have been replaced because it does not use
> studs at each flange, but only at two of them. Cylinders #1 and #4 have each
> had both studs replaced with bolts, and despite my fears of dealing with the
> dreaded exhaust studs it was two of these bolts that snapped off during the
> removal, the upper one at each of the two flanges.  Damn!  The studs
> survived just fine, although access to them was so bad I had to Dremel off
> most of the nuts.
>
> So now I find myself with additional challenge of removing the remains of
> the bolts, two nubs about 3/8” long poking out of the heads.  I’m doing some
> other cleanup work before tackling that task so if there are any suggestions
> for proceeding I’m all ears and will check back for your suggestions.  PB
> Blaster soaks in progress.  I’m thinking propane torch and Vise Grips.  I’ve
> heard of welding nuts to what’s left and turning them out that way, but I’m
> no welder.
>
> I knew going in that this job would be messy, troublesome and potential
> painful (lucky on that last one so far) and I know why we pay shops to do
> this kind of work, but I also figured that I could handle it.  Gotta love a
> challenge.
>
> Stephen
>