2.3L ('83-'97) Exhaust bolt help!

[96splash!]

I got a 1996 two-wheel drive ranger with a 2.3 l. I desperately need to replace the two bolts that hold the catalytic converter to the exhaust manifold. But nowhere has them for sale and I cannot find any data on the thread size can anyone help me please

 

[Blmpkn]

I'm relatively sure they're studs.. so If they're bad enough I've always just cut them off with a grinder flush with the flange and then drilled them out to accept bolts.

 

[Uncle Gump]

These perhaps?

Walker Exhaust 36129 Exhaust Bolt and Spring https://a.co/d/gh68o5h

 

[Uncle Gump]

Oh... I didn't read the "to exhaust manifold part".

Those would likely be studs.

I would even consider calling an exhaust shop locally. They would fix you up in an hour... you don't waste an entire day fooling with it and zero rust in your eyes.

They do this stuff all day... usually pretty reasonable

 

[Josh B]

Maybe not in Kansas

 

[Josh B]

If I can get this 96 disc to work on an old PC maybe it will give the specs you need there 96Splash

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yeah, they're likely studs and likely 10mm or 12mm threads

 

[Josh B]

I have a Ford disc for 96 but have to find another PC to use it on, likely can get you specs on it tomorrow

 

[96splash!]

Thank you guys for responding. If they were studs, the a po must have drilled them out. They are bolts, 5/8th head size. I'll have to figure something out.

 

[Josh B]

Your options now are use bolts or tap it out to a larger size

 

[scotts90ranger]

Sorry, honestly I haven't looked at my '97... definitely bolts and they look like 12mm threads, being ford they use the oddball flange head bolts since they have a 16mm hex (same as 5/8" but I know it's going to be metric...). On my turbo engine they have 12mm studs but no room for a 19mm hex nut as would be standard or I just didn't find them at one point and lost the originals? whatever, I ended up tapping some 10mm nuts to get a smaller hex...

 

[96splash!]

I do not have access to a tap, dose anyone know what thread the manifold is from the factory?

 

[Josh B]

I could not get the 96 disc to work, barely got these, they are from 93-94, not sure they are totally correct either :/
The number is N804278 (14 required)

 

[scotts90ranger]

I will check later today but I'm 90% sure it is 12mm and just standard coarse threads,

 

[Josh B]

If it is anything like the 93-94 system, and I would expect it is, there are upwards of 14 identical bolts.

Most if not all of the bolts on this system are in the undercarriage and somewhat protected from weather

I do not recall them changing exhaust systems at any break necking pace

If you found even one that was somehow even similar it seems you could easily get a handful of them