2000 TJ Exhaust Removal Question

[nicellis]

I have a 2000 TJ with the 2 pre-cat exhaust. I am removing the oil pan and have read conflicting info on whether or not the oil pan comes out just by unbolting the 2 pre-cats or if you have to drop the trans skid plate and unbolt the entire intermediate piece from the pre-cat to the main cat. Looks like it'll (oil pan/rear seal) be an easier job if I can just take out the entire intermediate exhaust piece under the oil pan.

My question, before I drop the skid plate to get to that junction, do those bolts/nuts come off or is the bolt head welded like the main cat to muffler junction?

Lastly, when putting the exhaust back together, thoughts on adding high temp RTV to the junctions? Seems like a lot of people get leaks when they try putting old exhaust parts back together.

Thank you!

 

[GregBelleville]

On my 99 which only has 1 cat I disconnected my exhaust at the down pipe and dropped my trans skid to make it easier to move the exhaust pipe around when removing the oil pan. I didn't completely remove the exhaust, it was still on the hangers, it just gave me the wiggle room I needed to get the pan out.

As for high temp rtv, I successfully used that stuff to seal my exhaust leak at the header/downpipe flange.