Are we talking about the same thing? I remove the nuts that are circled in this picture, then bend part "A" slightly rearward and the muffler drops easily.

Those two nuts are really really easy to get to, and removing the bumper wouldn't help a bit.

 

the 2 nuts that are circled are very easy to get to but it does depend on what you have for socket wrench parts, you can't see them, but they're easy to feel for

I think I used a standard socket head, then a 1 inch extension, then a universal joint, then a 4 inch extension, if you had a flexible extension that'd probably work even better than the universal joint and other extensions

 

We are talking the same thing!!! if the bumper is off, those two bolts are reachable
with a long extension from the rear.

Like Jay said, you guys are double jointed or something

 

I guess what I don't understand is I'm not removing the bolts (can't see the heads - they are on the opposite side of "A" in this picture, facing the inside of the bumper cover). I'm just removing the nuts. The bolts in question are somehow fastened to my "A" piece. IIRC, they were tack welded into place at the factory. So removing the bumper would not help at all.

Your exhaust may be different.

 

Ok I see whats going on, on my MY 2000 the two bolts point to the back of the car.
The two nuts on the back are held in place by a retaining clip but still must be wrenched from the back.

 

I do not remove the circled nuts i remove the 2 on each outer edge of the stamped steel support labl;ed A

on later cars i belive its 03 with the "ducts" in the rear bumper you need a pry bar to get the muffler out .

 

OK, everyone over to my place, we will try with and without bumper removal
Bring tools ! heh..

 

Mark, take before and after pics of your knuckles if you leave the bumper on and post the pics here

 

It's really not bad at all, and I don't even have small hands. Nor am I particularly coordinated.

If anyone wants to drive down to Maryland I'll be more than happy to do it.

 

Tempting offer!

 

Marc,

Shoot me a PM and we can set something up. Hopefully for a time slightly warmer than right now...!

 

so i guess then it comes to this: try it with the bumper on, if u cant do it that way, take the bumper off

 

Yea, but..but, we need the knuckle shots also

 

bump....

How did the exhaust swap go????
bumper ON er OFF?

 

Have not gotten to it yet, too damn cold to mess with the cars!