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[TheBoy]

That looks a bit odd to me, almost as if someone has already drilled out the screw threads and fitted nuts & bolts

Indeed, looks like a nut and bolt. Bloody cowboys.

Doesn't look too bad, I'd volunteer, but my snivel is turning into manflu

[Terbs]

I really can't make out if it is a nut, its small if it is. I automatically thought it was an extension of the bracket with a thread in it. If it is a nut, I got nothing to fit it, as the bolt head situation. If you fellas say its just a thin bolt with a nut on, and not screwed into the bracket itself, I'll hacksaw it in the middle and wallop the two ends out. 

Have to be honest, years ago that job would have been done in minutes, but as you get older, and see horror stories on here, you get doubts about your confidence and abilities, afraid of mucking something up. Apart from the time it takes to get back up again after getting down

If anyone is passing near Hazlemere tomorrow, for a second opinion, you will be wellcomed

[biggriffin]

looking at the photos its a badly corroed nut, snap it off remove the exhaust.
 get a dot punch and wack the stump thats left in the down pipe out and then run a 5/16 drill thro the holes on both sets of flanges, and refit with nice new m8x80 nuts n bolts and washers with lots of copper slip.

[biggriffin]

That looks a bit odd to me, almost as if someone has already drilled out the screw threads and fitted nuts & bolts

Indeed, looks like a nut and bolt. Bloody cowboys.
Doesn't look too bad, I'd volunteer, but my snivel is turning into manflu

 the proper way to refit a system on the v6 is to drill out the flanges and refit nuts and bolts as the stupid GM way is crap.

[TheBoy]

That looks a bit odd to me, almost as if someone has already drilled out the screw threads and fitted nuts & bolts

Indeed, looks like a nut and bolt. Bloody cowboys.
Doesn't look too bad, I'd volunteer, but my snivel is turning into manflu

 the proper way to refit a system on the v6 is to drill out the flanges and refit nuts and bolts as the stupid GM way is crap.

Really? I find it works rather well

[feeutfo]

That looks a bit odd to me, almost as if someone has already drilled out the screw threads and fitted nuts & bolts

Indeed, looks like a nut and bolt. Bloody cowboys.
Doesn't look too bad, I'd volunteer, but my snivel is turning into manflu

 the proper way to refit a system on the v6 is to drill out the flanges and refit nuts and bolts as the stupid GM way is crap.

...in that the threads that need drilling out are on the cats, not the exhaust thats being binned on removal. If the threads where on the exhaust side of the bracket, it wouldn't matter if said threads got damaged. As we'd have nice shiny new threads and bolts supplied.

Seems a bit stupid to me I must say.

[Terbs]

Well.....after a rethink, I am going for it tomorrow. Gonna saw the bolt and see what happens
If all ok, the other bolt goes the same way
Still have the second car for use.

[dbdb]

It's a few years back when I did my V6 exhaust up to the cats but I recall the problem of corroded studs and vaguely recall resorting to cutting some them with an angle grinder between the joint (witha  cutting disc)  and then having to drill out the remains and replace with a bolt.  It worked well, easily outlasted the car.

If you don't have a small angle grinder bolt croppers might be easier than a hacksaw.  An angle grinder is best as you can get the surface flush with a grinde disc prior to drilling out the stud/bolt, otherwise you're drilling on a slippy stump. If the bolt is so rusted you can punch it out so much the better.

[Terbs]

That was my worry, dbdb. I have a small angle grinder, but think my discs are stone ones....I expect B&Q would sell metal cutter disks?
Sounds more promising now Hopefully, as you see from the pics, if they ARE nuts, then hopefully the threaded bits will just bash out

[feeutfo]

Recomend drilling personally, but a number of bits may be needed, and there's a risk of the drill braking in the hole.

Its a bit tight for an angle grinder disc.


But whatever is to hand really.

[dbdb]

That was my worry, dbdb. I have a small angle grinder, but think my discs are stone ones....I expect B&Q would sell metal cutter disks?
Sounds more promising now Hopefully, as you see from the pics, if they ARE nuts, then hopefully the threaded bits will just bash out

Great you'll find it much easier with a grinder.  Use a very thin metal cutting disc (eg "ultra thin' or 'plasma') they will easily get between the joint. B&Q do sell them. You can later cut the surface flush with the thin disk I have done that  but its not very safe and you definitely shouldn't grind with a cutting disk (it will shatter)  better to switch to a thick metal grinder disc. 

[Andy H]

That was my worry, dbdb. I have a small angle grinder, but think my discs are stone ones....I expect B&Q would sell metal cutter disks?
Sounds more promising now Hopefully, as you see from the pics, if they ARE nuts, then hopefully the threaded bits will just bash out

10 minutes with a hacksaw and those bolts will be out. I'm not a big fan of using a grinder 3 inches from the end of my nose and 12 inches from the petrol pipes.

If (as suspected) the original screw threads have been drilled out then the remains will just fall out.

Have you tried turning the bolts with a spanner yet? If they spin round then the job is trivial. If they are stuck fast then you are into having to drill out the bits.

One scenario we haven't considered is that the threads barely survived the last visit by an exhaust fitter and someone added a lock-nut for security

[Terbs]

As I said in an earlier post Andy, I have not got a spanner or socket that will fit the bolt head. Lord only knows what size it is...between 11mm and 12mm
I have tried AF sizes, no go. As you can see by the pics, the nut is a no no too.

I would have thought if it was a Vauxhall garage, or an exhaust garage, they would have used a MM size.

[Andy H]

As I said in an earlier post Andy, I have not got a spanner or socket that will fit the bolt head. Lord only knows what size it is...between 11mm and 12mm
I have tried AF sizes, no go. As you can see by the pics, the nut is a no no too.

I would have thought if it was a Vauxhall garage, or an exhaust garage, they would have used a MM size.

Most likely it is/was a cheap 8mm bolt with 13mm head. Rust (+ heat and salt) has been eating away at it.

This is actually a good sign. If the bolts are that cheap then they won't be so difficult to remove