87 B2000 Front Catalytic converter replacement

Has anyone replaced the front catalytic converter that comes off the exhaust manifold in an 87 B2000?

I have removed the bottom three nuts that connect it to the exhaust pipe along with the 2 that hold on the air pipes and the 3 on the top flange holding it to the exhaust manifold. The injectors and manifold cover are out of the way. I have removed 3 of the 4 cat cover bolts..BUT the cat won't drop. Does anyone know if there are some additional bolts holding it to the block that I just can't see? The dealer says it should just fall out. The factory diagram indicates that I have removed the correct number of bolts and doesn't show anyting holding it to the block.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

I think you've unbolted everything, what about that 4th cover bolt? I think you'll just need to wiggle the catalytic converter out of there.

I've had this out twice on my '88 B2200: once to gut it, second when I rebuilt my engine fall 2011, and I don't remember it being too difficult to R&R.

I had a thread about this on a different site, but the pictures went missing when that site crashed.

Thanks for the reply.

Tomorrow I will get that 4th bolt out as it's the bottom bolt toward the driver compartment and hard to get and it appears to only hold on the cover, but I will find out if there could be attached to something holding it firm. I'm tried to entice the cat to come out with a few taps/blows with my hammer and it won't budge. Granted it's been there for 20 some years, but it doesn't even wiggle, just stares back at me, so there is probably something holding it that I just don't know about.