bkvette3
07-23-2016, 11:25 AM
Hello all,
Need to vent - I have been working and detailing on my very nice shape '85 ATC70 for a long time. Bought it from the original owner. One of the things I am working on is the exhaust system. Wanted to clean and repaint. The pipe is an OEM original - not rusted thru, no rust pits or dents - very nice. Had to remove the exhaust shield - had the usual dents in it. The 3 bolts holding the heat shield on gave me grief - rusted solid - Phillips head stripped. Two of the bolts I managed to get out (a lot of time and effort) with no damage to the threads, boss or pipe. The third was not so lucky. Tried and tried to no avail. The last attempt - the bolt sheared off. Good thing though there was still enough of the bolt sticking out of the boss. I knew what I needed to do. Had a flat washer and a nut. Just needed to be tack welded to the top of the bolt. Only problem - no access to a MIG welder. Next door neighbour - works @ a heavy duty truck repair shop. Said no problem to tack weld the washer and nut on. A week goes by - no pipe returned. Walked over this morning - says bad news. Brings me the pipe. New boss welded on (ugly job done). actually - a nut grinded round to look like the other 2 bosses. Grind marks everywhere. Small burn holes in the pipe from welding - you get the picture. A mint OEM exhaust pipe ruined. Frick - I was livid. :mad: I knew this before and I learned my lesson again. If you want something done right - DO IT YOURSELF. I usually don't let other people work on my stuff - I am anal that way. Thanks for listening , guys. I feel better now (sort of).
Side note - if any one has a nice clean original OEM exhaust pipe (a heat shield would be nice too) PM me. We will talk $$. I believe '84 - '85 are the same because of the heat shield.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
Need to vent - I have been working and detailing on my very nice shape '85 ATC70 for a long time. Bought it from the original owner. One of the things I am working on is the exhaust system. Wanted to clean and repaint. The pipe is an OEM original - not rusted thru, no rust pits or dents - very nice. Had to remove the exhaust shield - had the usual dents in it. The 3 bolts holding the heat shield on gave me grief - rusted solid - Phillips head stripped. Two of the bolts I managed to get out (a lot of time and effort) with no damage to the threads, boss or pipe. The third was not so lucky. Tried and tried to no avail. The last attempt - the bolt sheared off. Good thing though there was still enough of the bolt sticking out of the boss. I knew what I needed to do. Had a flat washer and a nut. Just needed to be tack welded to the top of the bolt. Only problem - no access to a MIG welder. Next door neighbour - works @ a heavy duty truck repair shop. Said no problem to tack weld the washer and nut on. A week goes by - no pipe returned. Walked over this morning - says bad news. Brings me the pipe. New boss welded on (ugly job done). actually - a nut grinded round to look like the other 2 bosses. Grind marks everywhere. Small burn holes in the pipe from welding - you get the picture. A mint OEM exhaust pipe ruined. Frick - I was livid. :mad: I knew this before and I learned my lesson again. If you want something done right - DO IT YOURSELF. I usually don't let other people work on my stuff - I am anal that way. Thanks for listening , guys. I feel better now (sort of).
Side note - if any one has a nice clean original OEM exhaust pipe (a heat shield would be nice too) PM me. We will talk $$. I believe '84 - '85 are the same because of the heat shield.
Have a great weekend, everyone.