Older Box? Considering headers?

[eightsandaces]

I know this is going to sound bad but I can't remember being more pissed in 51 years. I now have a helio coil in my exhaust manifold I'm praying will sock up and one more to repair I'm praying won't end up a second helio coil. Besides that, the uber strong, splined threaded bolts in the cat converter? Three came out like butter, the other three I beat the **************** out of no no avail. I have no idea how to get those lower splines out except to rent a torch.

I'm serious when I say I very well may have wrecked my car and I'm so defeated I may just sell it for a huge loss if I can't remedy the rest of the repair, all in pursuit of sound and maybe 10 hp...

Any suggestions on the splined broken bolts other than the torch I don't have would be appreciated.