I had to replace the turbo on my car last night and I took the downpipe off. I have it made to where it uses a cone type flange so it bolts up just like stock to the cat, and I have the bracket on there so it also bolts to the block like stock. So basically that downpipe aint ****** moving... I was able to get 1 of the cat bolts/springs in place by using a fully threaded bolt and nut and a ratchet to pull the cat and downpipe together and in place on one side, then I put the exhaust bolt in on the other, and tightened down fully. Now i'm trying to get the other one in but the spring holds it in just the right place where if i could maybe get 2 threads through the other side of it, then I could thread the nut on. I've tried all sorts of pliers and sizes, channel locks, ever a C-clamp to try to compress the spring while I push it through, no luck.

WTF do you guys do to get this stupid thing bolted back together? This is basically the only thing keeping me from testing out the new turbo, sure I can probably run without it but it bugs the hell out of me not having it together.