1990 244 126K

Realized after replacing the exhaust system on this car that the head pipe is leaking (hole?) behind one of the heat shields.

I have an almost new head pipe from a dismantled parts car that I could put on. However, in trying to remove the old one all three of the nuts are rusted in place. PB Blaster is currently soaking away, BUT I worry about breaking the studs in attempting to remove nuts. I only have propane (lame) to try to add heat to the equation in loosening the nuts. If I break the studs I will have to remove the exhaust manifold (I've got a spare)and replace it.

Not anxious to get into this as this car has to be on the road soon to my son's new residence (500 miles away from it primary care).

Options:

1. Use a long breaker bar and possibly break a stud (or three). Face up to the possibility of having to replace the exhaust manifold to attach the new head pipe?

2. Carefully cut the heat shield off and have the head pipe repaired if possible (welded/brazed?) and reattach the heat shield.

3. Ignore the leak and the noise it produces. It is not very loud, rather just an obvious leak in the system.

So what do you think?

Randy