H Pipe Install

[bham_gt]

I know there are several topics on this already, but I couldn't find anything on this specifically. My wife got me a MAC Off-Road H for my birthday. I tried to install it this weekend, and as expected, the passenger side bolts were a pain. So much of a pain that I wasn't able to get the stocker off. My question is this, does anyone have any specific tips on how to get the passenger side bolts off? I've got swivels and extensions and all that, but the socket won't go on the nut straight, so it's wanting to try to round it off because of the amount of force required to try and break it loose. I know if I round it off, I'll never get it to come off. Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[GT 5spd]

Try a deep well socket and some WD-40.........

 

[propellerhead]

PB Blaster seems to work better than WD-40.

 

[GT 5spd]

Oh You also need alot of pateince.......That always helps!!!!!!!

 

[helty]

like they said, PB blaster, patience, and we found that something between a deep-well and standard socket worked best. also a 6pt socket would prevent rounding off the nut compared to a 12pt socket.

 

[97gtblue]

definately patience and osme pb blast...i had a hard time the first time i did it but but now its not a problem for me,,,patience (key word)

 

[timeless2]

Medium well (medium depth) socket with 16" of extensions, a swivel, and a 30 minute soak of PB Blaster.

Then apply some greatly focused torque. You'll get it. Stay patient between grunts!

 

[STNG_96]

Be sure to use the right socket as well. 18 mm I believe. During the install, the guy that put mine on did round mine off, and ended up having to cut it out That sucked.

 

[bham_gt]

OK, I was planning on buying a medium-well socket this week before going back at it next weekend. It seemed like I could get a better angle on it that way. Glad to see that others used one of those too.

 

[mijo_latino]

I just did this on my 98'. Make sure you have 3/8" drive(1/2 didn't work). Don't worry about the strength of the drive, it should be plenty as long as it's not too much of an angle. Bust out the propane torch I say, the nuts like the heat. My nut was 11/16's for some reason.

Oh, if you already rounded some of the edges, your going to have to hammer the socket on a bit, don't step up to a bigger one. Good Luck, took me 2 days to get off becasue i tried to rush.

 

[four.six]

i rounded off those nuts when installing my midpipe. i took off the starter so i could have more room up in there. alot of ppl laugh at that, but taking the starter off to get a better grip is better than stripping the nut. if u do strip it, craftsman makes a set of sockets for that and they work great!!

 

[arkansas mystic]

i think there are two ways to get to the top nut, If I remember right you go through the highest opening. maybe go over teh top the the h-pipe? Its been a while since I changed mine. By the way the Mac O/R H is inexpensive but sounds SOOO good. I love mine.

 

[bham_gt]

By the way the Mac O/R H is inexpensive but sounds SOOO good. I love mine.

Yeah, I can't wait to get this thing put on and hear how it sounds. Hopefully I'll get it on this weekend. Thanks for all the tips guys! If anybody else has any more, keep them coming.

 

[timeless2]

Yeah, I can't wait to get this thing put on and hear how it sounds. Hopefully I'll get it on this weekend. Thanks for all the tips guys! If anybody else has any more, keep them coming.

There's a strong following on here over the weekend, so post up, if you have any issues!

 

[forpit2000gt]

If you have a muffler shop nearby, stop and ask how much it wold be for them to break loose and tighten back up. Once you round it off, sounds like you will not have the tools to complete. Also get a piece of pipe to put on the end of the drive so you can get more leverage.

 

[timeless2]

If you have a muffler shop nearby, stop and ask how much it wold be for them to break loose and tighten back up.

Damned good idea. No harm in having them do the dirty work. Not viewed as "illegal" either for tampering with emissions equipment.

 

[bham_gt]

If you have a muffler shop nearby, stop and ask how much it wold be for them to break loose and tighten back up.

Honestly, I wouldn't trust them to not round it off either.

 

[forpit2000gt]

they at least have the equipment to make the job easy. they could get the nut off and put a new one on. tell them not to impact the hell out of it.
I do this stuff with a car on the lift and air tools,so I don't know exactly how you guys do it. I know even with all the tools in the shop, it is still a PITA sometimes.

 

[Hammer1999Gt]

This is kinda off subject but is there any kind of paint to spray on the H pipe before installing to help keep it from rusting since the Mac pipe is just regular steel.

 

[forpit2000gt]

you can paint it with high temp paint. It will still come off.