HFC install questions

[Spawne32]

Quick question for you guys, how do you access the lower inner bolt (closest to the engine) on the turbo flange. Also, has anyone had to deal with all of the studs snapping on the downpipe portion. Seen here.

[adamazing]

That lower flange bolt is the pain in the ass bolt. You can get at it with an extension or two so the ratchet handle is near the firewall pointing up. Then throw a breaker bar or pipe on it and try to break it free.

Downpipe bolts: Yes. They snap off quite easily if not soaked in WD-40 for hours ahead of time. Most people drill them out and replace them with traditional bolts anyway.

[Spawne32]

Is the catback all one piece after that point?

[bakedziti]

Is the catback all one piece after that point?

No, just slip joints. When I removed my factory exhaust to replace it a few months ago, I found all of the clamps were basically frozen, so I removed the whole thing in a single piece by removing the 3 cat to DP bolts.

[Spawne32]

I did actually get this finished after the 3rd day, mostly due to health issues slowing me down. All of the studs except for one came out because of the bolts being rusted to them badly. Replaced the hardware with a grade 10.8 flanged nut, and some flanged bolts, all stainless with loctite blue. Damaged the flex section pretty badly trying to get the broken studs out, wound up having to drill two out and got one out with a hammer and punch. Doesnt leak but it actually compressed alot and the outter mesh was gone anyway. The exhaust is apparently NOT slip fit, they merely but up to each other and the OEM clamps apparently completely seal the two halves. So the parts store band clamp I bought is leaking slightly. At any rate I ordered a replacement midpipe section and OEM replacement clamp. Both walker part numbers... 55633 and 36536. Hopefully get those installed next week sometime and double check the torque on the turbo. I may look into replacing that turbo hardware with ARP stuff eventually or something better from mcmastercarr instead of ace hardware. Don't trust their chinese shit at all.