Sups everyone! I will be getting my FI HFC this week. And would like any input from other that have Installed these thier selves or watched a shop perform the removal of their OEM Cat. As I read so many horror stories about getting to that one damn "TOP BOLT" that is a B$itch to remove! I pretty much did most of my mods myself to save myself $$$, so I'm pretty handy with tools. But want to know if I should shoot that bolt down everyday with penetrating lube to loosen it up? not sure that will work? LOL. then use a big Braker bar to buss that bolt loose? I also have an Air compressor and Impact gun? would that also work better?

And almost forgot, should I remove all 02 sensors from the OEM cat before banging and hammering at this bolt? Since I have read that these sensors are very sensitive and may get damaged if I use the Impact gun with it still on? Hope there is room to get to the sensors? anyone know?

Aiight well I would appreciate any helpfull tips before I tackle this Nitemare Bolt! HAHA.

 

it's easier to remove the o2 sensor first...if u remove it after, u'll have a hard time trying to hold onto the cat and cranking that sensor off...so definitely remove the sensor first (also to prevent it from getting damaged from the vibrations)....if i were u, i'd use an impact gun...

 

Remove the sensors first and put them off to the side. I had about 6K miles on my car and still sprayed lube to help loosen all the bolts. The top bolt is a pain, but use the impact from up above in the engine bay with about 2 or 3 feet of extension. My brother in law used the impact from above and I was under the car helping to line up the bolt to the extension as it was easy for it to slip off. We also removed both intakes to see a little better.

 

Also be prepared in case you snap the head off of the bolt with that impact wrench and have to drill it and use an extractor to get it out. Not fun at all.

 

Remove the O2 sensor first. Very Important, do the work for the top bolt with an unused cup and a torch to heat it. That was the only way the shop fund to the work.
Good luck!!

 

from what i hear this is a biatch! good luck and let us know your progress on it.

 

damn! this info makes me even more weary of doing it myself!! Especially if that bolt breaks, i have no extractors or anything of the kind!

 

eh, you can do it. My dad and I were able to remove it with a 3 feet extension and good o' wrench. Took a lot of force to get it loose but you can do it.

 

Not to toot my own horn, but I'm pretty good at working on cars in my own opinion. There's a lot of things I know how to do but am unable to due to lack of time, proper tools, or other factors far more often than lack of know-how. This was one if them. I'm not saying you can't do it, but it's not a job for a novice and as I said, if you do snap that bolt off you are so very screwed. It can get really expensive to fix that F-up.

 

thnx guy's for your input so far! appreciate it all!

@BB. yea I myself installed every mod to my G, From the Suspension to the Cat Back Exhaust! So I am in no way a Noob to working on cars and with tools! But yea that snapping the bolt off does worry me! but if worse comes to worse, i'll have my freind do it at his shop! just want to try and save myself maybe $200-300 it might cost for someone to do the install for me. never know i may get away with nothing breaking. or it will break and gotta go to plan B. LOL. so it's like a 50/50 crap shoot!

Even if that bolt snapped, the FI HFC's come with all new bolts,gaskets to install. so still on the fence on what to do! also the CEL light is on my mind also. So is it really worth all the trouble for HFC's and the HP gains? I hope so!

 

^^^^ so worth it. FI HFC and cat back with no CEl yet. Had a cel with my berks though.

 

hey Shumby! Who Installed yours? a Shop or yourself? and if a shop did it how much did they charge you and how long did they take to do the job?

 

HFC first set (berks) was done at a shop cost about 200 CAD and I was in with them the entire time. Still ended up stripping one 02 sensor. Second set (FI) was put on buy the dealer as part of the pearchase deal.

 

hey shumby, added you on AIM, can you log-in so we can chat a little?

 

sorry man cannot get AIM here at work I am on MSN if you would like to chat. Stephenhumby@hotmail.com