Alright, I have an exhaust problem that i would like some advice on. ('93 ford ranger, 4.0L, manual transmission)

My muffler downtube took a ****. This is the tube that goes from the headers to the catalytic converter. There is a flanged connection that connects it to the cat, and it broke right from the flange. Here is a new downtube I bought for reference:

At the top of the picture is where the old tube failed, at the bottom are the parts that connect to the headers. Here's a picture of the old one, still on the truck. The old downtube is on the left, and the cat is on the right:

(I removed the broken flange that was still bolted to the catalytic converter.) The problem I have is that the other ends of this downtube are buried in the engine and I can't imagine how to get tools in there to drive the bolts out. It's a 23-year-old midwestern truck: everything is pretty well rusted. Stringing together a bunch of socket wrench extenders will probably not get me the leverage I am going to need. Here are photos of where the tube connects to the headers:


One of them is behind the oil filter, which will probably have to come out.

So I'm kind of stuck here: either there's a way to access these bolts I haven't thought of yet, or I need to find a different way to fix this. (Or pay someone else to deal with it... but that's a last resort.)

Has anyone else dealt with this? I seriously can't imagine how it's done without replacing the exhaust manifolds and everything else.

 

Well, I would use a 1/2" impact wrench / one single, long extension and the proper size six-point (NOT 12-point) socket. In one of the pics, it appears the stuff you sprayed on it didn't reach the part where the bolt threads into the manifold flange (this is important). Spray generously with a GOOD penetrating fluid (ZEPs or your favorite). Also, bear in mind that WD-40 IS NOT penetrating fluid.