Catalytic Converter Removal

[phouse]

I broke my 02 sensor off in the pipe.. Has anybody had trouble removing the Y
pipe from the converter. There are three bolts that look pretty rusted. It looks like a stud with the nut on the Y pipe side and the conevertor side doesn't have a hex head on it. Does this bolt stay with the convertor ? Or should I just air chisel them right off and replace them .. Has anybody successfully removed them ? I will need to remove the Y Pipe also from the engine to remove the O2
sensor

 

[JoshC]

I believe my 97 converter is just about the same thing. It is a pain in the butt the first time you have to take that baby off. I say you start hitting with WD40 for a couple of days if you can, if not then hit it a couple of times with a hammer after you spary some stuff on it and take a pry bar and try to twist it off. The bolts stay in the converter, but i guess if you wanted to get new ones then you could probably chisel them off but i don't think i would. If you can't get them off with a pry bar then that would be my last resort. It is hard to get off the first time, but it will come. PATIENTANCE IS YOUR FRIEND!! haha

Happy trails!!