My car was cold and I left the lubricant on the bolts for a good 2 hours before trying to break them off.

:iagree: me too!

At the cost of a $700ish cat, I'd say the car took at least one point. :icon18:

Kroil works some magic with seized up fasteners.

Well I never really thought I could sell them for anywhere that much, the best I was planning on doing is either keeping them or scrapping them for some ca$h at a metal recycle yard. ($80 for the set) which I just plan on doing that since one is toast. All they want is the precious metals in the cat anyway...) :eekdance:

Definitally will do, I saw a clip on YouTube with same setup and the sound is unbelievable. I love that American throat, small block sound, this exhaust has a small hint of that. The exhaust notes that come out on decal are crazy! Stillen takes the win in my book.


The test pipes really opened up the bottom end, my wife even came home asking what I did to the car. I'm really curious to see what a dyno would show. Plus I'm getting 23MPG.

I made it halfway through the installled getting the passender side installed but ended up letting a shop do the drivers side for me. I decided to stop while I was ahead and not distroy the drivers side "b*tch bolt" during my attempt. I noticed a bit of a rattle or leak though when the engine is reved, anyone else experience this? I'm planning on checking the gaskets over when I get time.

I would definitely check for leaks if you have not already. But if you hear a hiss after acceleration it is normal with these cats for some reason. Good luck :tup:

Removal of the cats on our Z isn't for the faint of heart. It took me about two hours (including jacking it up and down), You have to work slowly, make sure you use a nice penetrant (3m), and have lots of extensions. I used 3/8 and they worked fine. Yes, never use 12 point sockets on something so stubborn, you will strip it. You do NOT need an impact gun for this, probably best you don't use one at all on the exhuast.

I feel bad for those that destroyed their cats trying to get them off, what a nightmare. Hope you never need your cats back on.

It was a nightmare as at one point I was like screw it. I was about ready to put it all back together and limp it to the nearest Midas. But I was running out of time and this was this only alternative. I was going to win damn it!!! I had stripped out the nut so there was no turning back. Stock cats are not going back, ever. :)

This thread is full of win, lol. Except for you TJ, I have to give the point to the car, man.

Hahah well I was beat on hard I agree. But in the end I will be driving said Z with HFC's down to the metal recycle yard to cash in on my stock cats for some cash... :ughdance:

It's no surprise to me at all actually. I had a bad feeling it was going to be an EPIC fail moment for me. It always is with me. Whenever I do all my mods I take the stated install times and multiply by 4 and throw in a monkey wrench and thats how it ends up. I just accept that and it's all good. ;) It's still better than paying the rediculous install costs! Nissan wanted $450 to install my Nismo S-Tune suspension!

It's all good, man! Dem Debbil bolts have claimed many victims.

:iagree:

+1 rep just for knowing you were going to FAIL and did it yourself anyway!

Great job man! :rock:

I know what you mean, sometimes you just have to just get sh.. done. Just be glad your not a tech and it wasn't a customers car or something, "umm, we had to cut your cat in half,here's your car" lol.

Installed mine without an issue, just had to use extensions for the top flange bolts and a breaker bar. Had them out with Test pipes installed in about an hour. But also used a lift at a co-workers house.


DAN