so i got the cobalt addiction header in the mail yesterday and im pretty excited.

Ive spent probably almost 4 hours trying to install it, but I cant seem to get the stock one off!!!!

Ive had me and 2 other people try it, but those dam bolts on the downpipe just dont want to come off!! Like it seems like you have to be the hulk to do it!!.

We did get them to budge a little bit but it seemed like they stiffened back up after a turn or two.

I havent even tried the 10 connecting the header to the actuall block yet...

I dunno is it really this hard???? it seems like this shuold be like a 30 minute job!

 

get a bigger and longer rachett and put some WD-40 on the bolt. once you have enough leverage it'll come off. BUT...... make sure the nut is coming off and the stud itself isn't coming out cause that'll lead to problems down the line if you keep taking the studs in and out. I got feed up with studs backing out changed to longer bolts that were a little bit smaller than the openning with a nut on the opposite side.

 

C/A header comes with new studs there phil.... we don't have the problems you got..hahaha
but the bolts on the head should be easy... 3 tricky ones though .. the two all the way to the drivers side can be a bitch to get at... and the one in the middle... dp bolts.. just use a breaker bar or a good 1/2 drive ratchet and a lot of wd... doesn't matter if they snap or not.. just pick up new nuts from home depot.. I think they were a 10mm thread. or something like that,

 

looks like you need the bench press mod!!

haha... let some wd40 soak into it, and give it another shot...

 

use a big torque wrench with some extensions. I haven't personally removed mine but that is my advice for stubborn bolts and nuts. Also some sort of penetrating oil is good too.

 

haha yea for sure... cool well ill try that then, i was almost at the point of using one of those air compressor wrenches (i forget what theyr called)

 

depending on where you are with the install. take pics and post them

 

Best Advice

USE AN AIR COMPRESSOR AND AIR RATCHET

Or if you want to break the crap out of em just used an Impact gun

And WD-40 sucks the butt. Goto your dealer and have them sell you a can of BG Rust Inhibiter and Penetrator. (It will be a little pricey if they have it) But its seriously 200 times better than WD-40

 

go to homedepo and get one of those torches in with with the yellow tank, i forget the name of it, we use them all the time at work. heat the bolts up and it will make life so much easier. you don't have to heat them till they glow just a little bit. you would be surprised how a little heat make things move.

 

Had this same problem last week:

WD40 the bolt, leave it for 10 minutes, then come back out and bash the **** out of it with a hammer.

Repeat 2 times.

Then torch it with a blow torch for 5 minutes, quickly pull away the torch, and spray some more WD40 on.

Then get one person underneath the car, and one person on top and teamwork that damn thing off, I spent 3 hours on mine before we got the damn thing off!

 

This is what I used, $5 at AutoZone. I found the three DP nuts to be easier taking off from underneath the car, but only if you have the car on stands. And unless CA has modified their header, be ready for disappointment.

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/problems-service-maintenance-69/ca-stainless-steal-headers-dont-fit-34701/

Be sure to scroll down and read my post's. Again, I may be wrong, they may have tweaked it to fit better since I tried installing mine. But the two that I attempted to install, did not fit right.

 

^^ Thats because BG is the ****. I love it. Use it all the time at work.

 

Kenny from cobalt-addiction is in the process of making new headers to fit the 2.2 with now fitment issues.

 

if you want pics of my fitment issues pm me with your email and i will send the pics that i have.

 

Just put a cheater bar on the end of your ratchet that works...just be careful

 

thanks for all the replies!

well i got it running but must have done something wrong haha...
it sounds like a lawnmower....


i know its leaking and i just broke a bolt trying to tighten it haha
so i guess im done till tomorrow