Clogged Catalytic Converter!

[BennyT]

Hey all! I recently bought a 2x4 2001 Ford Sport Trac with the 4.0 SOHC, and has a terribly rough idle, and you need to keep the engine alive with throttle control. I replaced the O2 sensors and saw minimal results. However, after I ran it, my passenger side cat was glowing red hot, and it was a miracle nothing was set on fire! Now I’m trying to remove the y-joint, and although the two nuts on the driver’s side were a breeze, the passenger has been a pain, as the in between the cat and the frame make it impossible for me to get an extension with an impact on there. Any suggestions?

 

[BKennedy]

Did you try a wobble extension?

 

[BennyT]

We found that our wobble extensions were too shallow for the stud. Worst case scenario, we torch off the studs, drill holes into the manifold, weld in some new studs, and pray this never happens again lol!

 

[BKennedy]

If you are replacing the cat, can you cut it off with a reciprocating saw just past the end of the studs? That should give you plenty of room to get a impact on the nuts.

 

[BennyT]

Yeah, I figured we probably shouldn’t reuse those, thanks!

 

[410Fortune]

If you have a torch then heat those up first they will come right off that way
Try using 3/8" drive hardware with a wobbly EXTENSION, you know the extensions with the wobble end on them

I always chase the threads before putting this back together, or use smaller grade 8 through bolts.......