Hey guys, i bought a 05 mach z about a month ago, found out the hard way these things

need studs or your going no where. Anyways, I have a factory 1 inch track,. and I bought 144 1.325

studs with double backers and tall/short nuts as many of you have suggested.

I have also bought (2) tunnel protectors from shadetree (tall ones)

My Question, is how do I take the old tunnel protectors out. I bent back the finn at the back, but I can't seem to move these protectors?? The suspension is totally out of the sled, however the track and driveaxle are still in place.

Secondly, many of you have suggested that I should have boughten 3 protectors and cut the taper of them. I am kinda in a jam now, because I am leaving for a ride on Saturday and I now have no time to get another protector.

Which way does the taper go in, towards the front (front heat exchanger) or near the back (snowflap)??????

These 1.325 studs seem really long, atleast 1/2 penetration, and they are already nicking the front exchanger, just when I rotate the track to stud it. There seems to be two strips on the front heat exchanger already, looks like a factory protector, do I need different ones on the bulkhead protector????

I don't want to be puking out green stuff on my ride on saturday, so any help is GREATLY appreciated.

thanks

Kyle

Some good questions there, very intrested in the responses myself.

I've studded 2 rt machs. The stock protectors don't always just "pull out". I had to use a chisel and a hammer to drive em out. Make sure you have the ends straight or they'll give you some major fits coming out and new ones going in. They will come out with persistence. If you have an angled pick, that helps also. Once you can get a pair of vicegrips on it, just pull.

WRONG studs. you need a 1.075 to go with a 1" track. the 1.325's are for a 1.25 track