hey all. Not sure if this is the right place for this...
Anyhow, as some may know, last week i replaced the transmission in my 03’ ‘hoe z71 in my driveway. Long story short, the exhaust has been a nightmare: the studs from the year-pipe to muffler snapped - 3 of the 6 studs from the exhaust manifold to the y-pipe snapped off - and then I found that 3 of the exhaust manifold bolts had the broken bolt head issue.
The y-pipe to muffler issue is no biggie. I knocked the studs out and replaced with stainless hardware. The broken exhaust manifold bolts was also easily fixed by welding nuts to the broken bolts. But I am having lots of trouble with the exhaust manifold t y-pipe studs.
So far I have tried heat with vice grips with no luck.
I have tried welding a bit into the broken stud but either the stud snaps again or the weld gives way when I torque them.
Finally I have tried cutting the stud flush with the flange and either welding a bit or bolt to the broken end, or making a glob weld I can grab with vice grips - nothing has worked.
What should I do here? I don’t have a torch that can cut the stud out. Should I just drill it out? If I drill it out do I have to retire as the flange or can I just replace that with a bolt and a nut; could I weld a bolt onto the flange so that I don’t have to hold both sides while tightening?
I have contemplated taking them to a muffler shop but I am sure it will cost at least $100. For $100 I would be more inclined to replace them either with aftermarket factory replacement or some cheap short tube headers.
Anyhow, as some may know, last week i replaced the transmission in my 03’ ‘hoe z71 in my driveway. Long story short, the exhaust has been a nightmare: the studs from the year-pipe to muffler snapped - 3 of the 6 studs from the exhaust manifold to the y-pipe snapped off - and then I found that 3 of the exhaust manifold bolts had the broken bolt head issue.
The y-pipe to muffler issue is no biggie. I knocked the studs out and replaced with stainless hardware. The broken exhaust manifold bolts was also easily fixed by welding nuts to the broken bolts. But I am having lots of trouble with the exhaust manifold t y-pipe studs.
So far I have tried heat with vice grips with no luck.
I have tried welding a bit into the broken stud but either the stud snaps again or the weld gives way when I torque them.
Finally I have tried cutting the stud flush with the flange and either welding a bit or bolt to the broken end, or making a glob weld I can grab with vice grips - nothing has worked.
What should I do here? I don’t have a torch that can cut the stud out. Should I just drill it out? If I drill it out do I have to retire as the flange or can I just replace that with a bolt and a nut; could I weld a bolt onto the flange so that I don’t have to hold both sides while tightening?
I have contemplated taking them to a muffler shop but I am sure it will cost at least $100. For $100 I would be more inclined to replace them either with aftermarket factory replacement or some cheap short tube headers.