exhaust tip removal- stock '02 C2

[rono]

I'm looking to powder or ceramic coat my stock exhaust tips. Looking at the inside of the tip, I can see a round head bolt and underneath a nut . Is that it, (it can't be that simple) or do I have to remove the clamp and short downpipe from the muffler. Those clamps are knuckle busters!

Thanks for any help,

Rono

[Loren]

Yes, you will have to pry the clamp off.

[rono]

I was hoping to avoid that, thanks for your help.

Ron

[perryinva]

That's incorrect. On an "02 remove the locknut from underneath, pull out the bolt, and the tip pulls right off, The nut has a square base to prevent it from spinning (carriage bolt), so make sure you apply pressure on the round top to keep the bolt from spinning. I used Kroil to penetrate the threads. I just did this to polish the tips easily. But, just curious, why do you want to powder coat or ceramic coat stainless steel?

[rono]

Thank you for the info, I'll jump on it tonight. My decision is purely aesthetic (although some may disagree) my car is lapis blue and I'm going for color matched or black tips, just a little different look.

Thanks again,

Ron

That's incorrect. On an "02 remove the locknut from underneath, pull out the bolt, and the tip pulls right off, The nut has a square base to prevent it from spinning (carriage bolt), so make sure you apply pressure on the round top to keep the bolt from spinning. I used Kroil to penetrate the threads. I just did this to polish the tips easily. But, just curious, why do you want to powder coat or ceramic coat stainless steel?

[perryinva]

Nothing wrong with that at all...should be a nice look...be sure to post pics!!!......just wanted to be sure you knew they were stainless steel, not chrome plated steel

[rono]

Thanks so much, your info was spot on. No need to remove the clamp and downpipe. The left stoveblot was frozen and the square slot wouldn't hold the shoulder on the bolt once it was a few threads loose (it's only about 1/16th" deep) so I had to cut the nut with a dremel and split it to get it off. In any case, I dropped the tips off at the coater and I'm doing them in black. I'll post pix when I get them back on the car.

Thanks again,

Ron

Nothing wrong with that at all...should be a nice look...be sure to post pics!!!......just wanted to be sure you knew they were stainless steel, not chrome plated steel

[perryinva]

That's why I mentioned that I used Kroil penetrant. Both of mine were frozen as well. Once I got down a few threads, and it was too difficult to hold down the rounded top and turn the nut, I used a Visegrip to hold the nut. I have an air set so it spun the nut off fast once the Visegrip had a good hold. I didn't want to chance rounding the square hole either. The key to Kroil is to let is soak a awhile. The second one I did, which soaked for an hour or so, literaly spun off with no problem. Looking forward to the pics and lets us know what it cost.....