Removal of exhaust tips

[larry1954]

Does anyone have any ideas about how to remove the stock through hull exhaust tips on a 1997 271 Fastech? I have removed the Silent Thunder box and have bought stainless steel angle 4" exhaust tips from CP performance. The screw holes in the new tips do not match the old, so I suppose that I will have to drill some more holes in the stern and patch up the old ones. But the main problem is removing the old tips. What have people found to work? I could use a Stanley knife to cut the old sealant around the old tips, but how do I apply enough force to them to actually dislodge them? I have though of using an oil filter wrench to grip them and then turn. Does that work? Or place a jack inside the engine bay and force them out that way, if you can find some part of the motor to jack against? Any help much appreciated.

 

[Formula Tenn]

if it is the 5200 3m type of sealant that stuff is hard to get loose. if you can get a small diameter wire between the thru hull and the transom (think fishing line small) and use a sawing motion to cut thru it, that might free it up enough to try turning it.