would you have a link to a similar wrench. i have no idea what one looks like...thanks for that link too, very helpful.

 

That's crazy unusual grief. I know the spring bolts break loose with a snap and if your hands aren't in a safe area and ready to back off quick it might end in pain.

But you did all the right steps with the PB and everything. Definitely go six point socket 1/2 drive FTW is great advise.

 

Here's what a swivel looks like

I used a swivel to break it lose then went to an open end wrench from the top.

 

ok, yes i do have a swivel and i tried to use it for bolt 5, but (again) that steering fluid reservoir is too close to the threads. I also tried to use a 12mm wrench, but (again) it is too tight to even grip for one rotation. Is there a specific swivel you used? i may have to buy one for one last try.

 

ok, i use the 6 point. but i use 3/8, not 1/2...what is the big difference between the two?

 

Did you break all the bolts loose before you started removing them. That does make a difference.

 

Just bigger. Makes it easier to get leverage and break stuff loose. I used a 3/8's drive but only because I didn't feel like crawling back out to grab my 1/2 drive

 

Good point on the getting them broke loose first before removing them 1 at a time.

 

The two on the exhaust manifold, I was never able to even break. The b-pipe one i could break, but-while unscrewing-it tightened back up to a halt.

 

btw, the car is stil drivable (luckily) so it can be used until repair. FYI for all who experience problems with partial uninstall.

 

OP Updated

 

I've done a few, and I've found the spring bolts come out easier if you undo each one only a few turns at a time rather than taking one all the way out then doing the other. And a 12"extension on a 1/2" drive ratchet is the key. I use just a box wrench on the top 5 bolts. Your case was the exception I think, never heard anyone having that much trouble.

 

Don' worry i had the same problem with my bolts they were impossible to take apart, so i took it to a muffler shop and they ended up breaking all the screws and replacing them. They only charged my $30 bucks for all the work and the new screws. I paid $120 for the headers.

Good Luck man, Sh*t happens.

 

man, now you got me worried about mine! i'm installing them in 2 weeks, along with shocks/struts with springs and a short ram. i hope it all goes easy!

 

Only trouble I had was getting the bolts from the brackets above the s pipe off. There was a chief who wanted to use my lift, kind of pushed me out of the way and did the whole header top to bottom in about 20 minutes. Install wouldn't have been that bad I used 1 bottle of pb blaster and 1 wd40.

 

yeah, definitely be ready for the header install. i used a diy for my short ram and that was not a problem. installed quite easily.