!! Stripped Cat Bolt !!
 

Tried to install my RTP's today. We stripped the passenger's side famous evil top bolt that is accessed through the engine bay.

I have all the proper tools and extensions. I used 1/2" breaker bar with a lot of 1/2" extensions and a 14mm 6-head socket and stripped the bolt. Didn't get to loosen it at all. Went to Sears and bought a extract bolt-kit and managed to loosen it about 1/4 turn. Then the bolt stripped some more.

Then I thought maybe we should just break the head of the bolt by over-tightening it. I tightened it about 1/4 then stopped because I wasn't sure if this was a good idea or not.

I've sprayed this bolt with PB blaster over a few days and it's still giving me trouble.

At this point the bolt is tightened normally and is stripped counter-clockwise.

What are my options? After spending all this money on tools and the time I put into it I don't really want to take it to a shop. I can do the install in less than an hour if it weren't for these two top bolts.

I've broken it down to two options:

1. Drive the car around and let the bolt heat-up then try to tighten and break the head of the bolt. (Is this safe? Will the flanges bend?)

2. Take it to a shop and let them blow-torch and remove the bolt. (Can the blow-torch reach the bolt?)


Any suggestions or feedback is appreciated!

Thanks

Dremmel...
 

I just knew, with only 3,000 miles on the odo, I wouldn't have the bolt problem.....Wrong. I broke one (no problem) and stripped the other.

The bolt had come out a quarter inch or so before stripping, so it gave me the opportunity to cut the head off. A little tedious, but pretty quick and simple. I first duct taped a Dremmel with cutting wheel to my extension. It was too bulky and I couldn't see down there well enough. So I got the snake extension for the Dremmel and taped IT to the end of the socket extension.

So...extension in hand, my brother holding the light, switching the Dremmel on and off for 5 mins....crisis averted.

Also, the cutting disk is smallish and you can't cut all the way through from just one side. so kind of cut around the bolt in an arc. I actually had to finish it off from below by prying with a small screwdriver to break it off.

Steady hand. DO NOT cut into the header!

ok I have a crazy idea not sure if you will believe me but this **** works. Go to a hardware store and see if they sell a liquid called e z grip. ok if you can't find it thats ok we can make it make sume thick mud and add a buch of small metel shavings in it mix it up and coat the inside of the socket with it and go remove it. My bolts also striped out and this is how i got them out. I know it sounds crazy but it does work, atleast for me it did.

Try to pound a smaller size socket on there. If not, go with the torch. But I like the dremmel idea.

So glad mine came out without a fight.....

From reading previous threads about removing the demon bolt and stripping it, I have to paraphrase another member..."welcome to a world of hurt!"

Hope you find a solution. Sounds like the "easiest" way out is to put a blow torch to it, perhaps at a shop. Yes, you have to pay, but perhaps the most viable solution, if the other ideas (Dremel, smaller socket) don't work/aren't feasible. Good luck.

Getting nervous,,,, my HFC's will be here in a couple days.. Gonna use PB blaster the night before and just pray... LOL..

Try to use a impact socket. You'll have better luck.

I had to cut the cat in half to remove it. Good luck!

http://www.the370z.com/members/tjlaz...-escapade.jpeg

Remove the stock air boxes to give yourself more room from the top.

So the bolt head is stripped but not the thread right?

GO to a shop and heat it up call it a day..

:eek::eek: Wtf omg thats crazy...

^^^that is crazy

yep it was. desperate measures. My car was on the lift and it was going to close in an hour. LOL

Yeah.. just the head is stripped counter-clockwise only..

I'm going to try using a gator grip and if that fails I'm going to try to break the head of the bolt...