Bolts welded on?

This is my first time on this site, so hello all.

I have a difficulty with my used truck. I picked up a used 2000 Tacoma and love it, yet have a check engine light that has stopped me from registering it for the past 3 months almost and I need to replace my downstream O/2 sensor. I have the part but for what I can tell some genius welded on the nuts. I have a dremel finally and tried for a bit to get it to cut off some of it, but for what I can tell the whole nut is welded onto the sensors plate. Does any one have any suggestions on how I can get the bolts off, replaced an on my way?

I did some digging around here and mabye the easiest way is to cut off the bolts, put new bolts in with it attached on the inside of the pipe and go from there to install the sensor. Would that work or will that just cause problems? Other than just dremeling and hoping that I dont mess up the threading, I dont know what else I could do.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as this is my dream truck that I finally got two years ago about now. I also have a question. Is this common practice for a dealer to do this or just a genius move on some one else's part?

 

It's not welded, just rusted.

Heat them red hot and you can remove the nuts with a pair of channel lock players.

Clean the exposed threads with a wire brush.

I've changed out 4 that looked exactly like that using the heat method.

 

They dont look welded to me, just rusted. This above says it all.

 

Really... Shows how much I know hehe. Thank you for pointing that out. What could I use to heat them up?

 

hand held propane torch is what I use.

I like the ones that you can adjust the flame. You can dial it down so only the flame hits the nuts and not the underside of the truck or near by wires.

 

I’ll pick one up when I can then. Thank you for the help Koditten! Saved me a world of hassle

 

I have never had luck with a propane torch getting hot enough So I never try just go to OXY-Fuel

For me the easy fix is just cut the bung off weld a new one on then most times the studs are broke or threads impossible to clean up

After the first time fighting trying to get rusted nuts off without breaking anything more

 

@Stryker20000

Did you get the nuts removed?

I am making this suggestion just in case: you don't have oxy/acetylene and/or a welder; the propane torch and channel locks did not work. Those are definitely better alternatives, but if you need to try something simple/cheap, a nut splitter, and then a chisel and hammer can be used. I'd pre-soak with penetrating fluid of choice, or 50/50 ATF + acetone (Lowes/HomeDepot).

Before I got an oxy/ac setup, I would use a nut splitter to get a decent groove started, then go to a hammer/chisel. Angle the chisel so it cuts threw just off to one side of the threads, not directly towards them. The hammering helps break the threads loose, whereas if you just continue with the splitter, you might end up with damaged threads. Kind of defeats the purpose.

Example:

$16 Elitexion 2pcs Nut Splitter Tool for Damaged Nut Remover

https://www.amazon.com/Elitexion-2p...5756650&sr=8-7&keywords=nut+splitter+tool+set

 

Sadly not yet. I have been working between 48-72 hours a week still and haven’t had the energy yet to get to it. I have a 4 day weekend coming up so I am going to try it then. I just hope the weather holds up.