Flex pipe removal?

[DJ Hennessy]

Just did my donuts on my exhaust only to take it out one time after to realize that there was still an issue... Muffler is blown apart at the Y, going to weld it, but worst problem is one of the flex pipes is broken as well. I have a replacement, but the bolts are so rusted on not sure if there's an easy way to get them for a good grip without removing everything below them to access them better (meaning Jack shaft, drive shaft, not sure if the front heat exchanger is in the way to yet, but really don't want to get into this if I don't have to) Tips? Would a air impact wrench be a good or bad idea to, worried about the impact on the motor causing damage?

 

[steiner]

If you are talking about the bolts going into the head then NO. Do not use a impact! If they are stuck in the aluminum get them hot with a torch. They should come out with out damaging anything.
Puzzled tho. How did you put new donuts in without noticing that you had broken exhaust components?

 

[Winderallday!]

Odd that the bolts would be rusted on/seized, if as Steiner mentioned they are the two you are referring to that bolt the flex pipe flange to the head.
The bolt heads do rust, but I have never had an issue removing them. The flex pipe flange appears to be chrome plated, so they do not create a corrosion bond to the flange, and I doubt they are seized in the aluminum head.
I use a universal style adapter with the proper socket and a long extension with a ratchet. The universal type knuckle gets you on the hex head bolt at the right angle to get the proper grip.

 

[DJ Hennessy]

If you are talking about the bolts going into the head then NO. Do not use a impact! If they are stuck in the aluminum get them hot with a torch. They should come out with out damaging anything.
Puzzled tho. How did you put new donuts in without noticing that you had broken exhaust components?

I had a buddy giving me a hand that had pulled the exhaust out while I worked on the donuts. Since I'm new to doing my own work on the sled, didn't know that the flex pipe should be loose from the core pipe or just didn't notice it... Can't remember now. May also be from the ride I took after doing them, quite a few backfires happened and may have just been a hairline crack while we worked on it the first time... Hard to say, but lesson learnt! Lol

 

[DJ Hennessy]

Odd that the bolts would be rusted on/seized, if as Steiner mentioned they are the two you are referring to that bolt the flex pipe flange to the head.
The bolt heads do rust, but I have never had an issue removing them. The flex pipe flange appears to be chrome plated, so they do not create a corrosion bond to the flange, and I doubt they are seized in the aluminum head.
I use a universal style adapter with the proper socket and a long extension with a ratchet. The universal type knuckle gets you on the hex head bolt at the right angle to get the proper grip.

Good news, few hits with the torch and they came out! Biggest issue was I think this has been done before and somebody put the original 10mm bolt and a 3/8" bolt as well... came very close to stripping the 3/8" using the 10mm socket. Thanks for your help guys!