How to loosen rusted threads
 

I need to drop my muffler for timing cover gasket change. The bolts have never been off therefore there's a lot of rustover. I tried WD 40 but no luck.

What's recommended to free up rusted bolts? I am particularly concerned with the muffler strap bolts and the cat to muffler.

Once I have a solution, I'll order new gaskets.

Thanks in advance....

PB
 

SOAK THEM IN PARTS BLASTER FOR SEVERAL DAYS. IF YOUR EXPERIENCED,YOU SHOULD KNOW THE BREAKING POINT OF A BOLT. DONT GO PAST THAT POINT AND BE PATIENT.

WD40 is not a penetrating oil, buy a penetrating oil such as rust buster or PB blaster. Heating a rusty bolt or nut is another method of breaking the bond between the rust.

For rusty nuts you can purchase a nut cracker to break the nut since you should not reuse the old nut anyway. Take your time or else you will be dealing with stripped or broken studs.

Go to Sears and buy the "Bolt Out" sockets as seen on TV and hawked by Bob Viela, they're sockets with internal biting teeth and they really work.

Those nuts and bolts are free floating, not screwed into the heads. Cut them off, heat them up, destroy them and replace them with fresh ones (with antiseize compound). A dremmel tool works.

That is what I would do.

Use some PB Blaster on the muffler retaining straps and give them a good sharp twist and they should break lose. Cut the other ones off and replace them.

Good advice folks... I'll go for the soaking in PB but if not successful, I'll cut them off.

When I go after the muffler and TCH gaskets, I'll order the muffler strap bolts. The muffler to cat nuts & bolts I figure I can get those at any hardware store unless they are special temp treated etc.....Correct???

i know you can find all the correct hardware at a good store. i ended up using pcar parts. i had a set of bolts that were longer than the muffler strap bolts on hand, just in case i had difficulty getting the regular length strap bolts to thread on. sometimes the straps magically seem too short to work. that way you can use the long bolts get the straps started, zip tie them together, put on the correct bolts, cut zip ties and tighten down. this time i didnt need them, but i had to before.

cliff.

Thanks for the advice Cliff.....Makes sense....

For hardware, see what I suggest here:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=82895&highlight=bolts+5 %2F1618+pitch+stainless

--Wil

Thanks will....

Will do

The best pent. oil is from Kano Labs, It's called Kroil. "the oil that creaps" It will run uphill on a bolt standing up in a pool of it. It has never failed me, even on the tough ones. I think you will find them in Tenn. Do a google search. Brian

IMHO ...all these three are the best penetrating oils...no particular order:
-kroil
- pb blaster
- Wurth Rost -off

Anything else, like WD-40 is junk ( for *this* application)....

--Wil

I second the recommendation for Kroil. I go through a case a month in my shop, I've never found anything that works better, although there are a few products that are probably as good.

Spray it on, let it sit an hour. Spray it on again. rap it with a hammer. Spray it again and let it sit overnight. That will usually get it if it's going to come off without a victor wrench.

Thanks guys...

Looking up a source for Kroil......

Kroil is on the web - there are no sources -- they only do mail order.