wolverine1967

Can any who's ever attempted to take the cats off a 1995 please tell me how you were able to get the top bolt on the left cat bracket off? It seem to be an impossible task and no wrench seems to fit that tight space (the bracket that attaches to the trans and cat). I've tried a 14mm wrench and can get it on but there's no room to swing it, a socket wrench doesn't fit due to space. Maybe a flex socket and an extension?
Please help before I bleed to death .

pianoguy

I used a long, skinny wrench and about a billion tiny turns to get that bolt out. Some folks just cut the bracket off with a sawzall, but I didn't want to go that route.

wolverine1967

Ugh, really? there's no other entry point etc...
Does craftsman make a wrench like that?
Damn

wolverine1967

I am right that it's a 14mm, correct?

jtc44

No vette tech. am I but I do know that the GM,S use for the most part 7 10 13 15 18 MM stuff Japs use 8 10 12 14 17 19 MM stuff Your fastner was prouble a 15 MM that is rusted I did a cat on my 84 I think I used a long ext. 14MM socket pounded it on If all else fails go to parts stor or sears and get STRIPER sockets Thay have fluts cut in them to grab striped fastner and hold + beer

wolverine1967

Thanks. Yes, the beer helped
Unfortunately the bolt is still on.
I went to sears and got a new 14mm wrench, no go. 14mm 1/4 flex socket with extension, broke. running out of options.
so i guess my next question is if it's necessary to get that bracket of for removal of the transmission. it seems to be one of the trans bolts as well as holding the bracket but i can't tell. ugh.

vettestir1

I use a 14mm swivel socket with about 2' of extentions. It has to be a swivel socket not a swivel joint. If your talking about the drivers side then both bolts are tranny bolts. The top of the bracket is slotted so you only need to loosen the top bolt up and remove the bottom one. I go thru this every 2 years for smog.

wolverine1967

Thanks for the reply. Yup, I'm off to sears to get a 3/8" swivell 14mm socket and another extension to see if I can muscle it off that way. The 1/4" swivel fit well and I thought would work but it broke before the bolt moved. I have more liquid wrench on it today to see if it will break free tonight. Are you sure the bracket is slotted on top for a 95? it looks solid to me. If the bolt (god forbid) strips, any suggestions? More beer?

vettestir1

I have a 96 but I think there the same it should be slotted.
Good luck!!

wolverine1967

Okay, thanks. I'll check when i get home.
Yes...Luck is what I need most right now

wolverine1967

Glory days, Glory days. Thank you vettestir1 thank you.
Yes, a 3/8" 14mm flex socket and a 20" extension with a 1/2" socket wrench at the end and about 500lbs of muscle force (thank goodness I've been going to the gym) broke it loose finally.
Now on the the hard part lol.
Next the drive shaft and the transmission.
Thank you again.

skateparkdave

Next time you have a tough one, spray it down with PB Blaster a day before. Stuff works on most stubborn nuts if you have tine to let it soak in.

When I did my headers the stock manifold bolts were frozen. Someone in here suggested I spray them with pb blaster 12 hours before work. Man what a difference. It's a permanent option in my tool box now.