Am I screwed? Need advice about shower arm

[legendr34]

Hello everyone,
I'm about to finish off my bathroom when I realized I cannot install the shower arm. The shower head pipe is just connected to another copper pipe with an end cap, I don't see a drop ear elbow installed...any advice on what I can do? Rip out the tile?

My plumber can't work on this anymore because he was diagnosed with cancer is probably in treatment now....

Pic:

 

[Plumber69]

Why would your plumber do this. Did you take a flash light and see if there's a thread joint in the hole? Cause your screwed for your body spray to

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Plumber69]

Do you have access from the other side if you cut a hole

 

[Plumber69]

I can't see any plumber doing this. He might have made some threaded stubouts for testing for leaks. Hopefully they will counterclockwise twist out

What we normally use.

 

[legendr34]

Thanks for your reply, I can cut out the dry wall to access the back. But I am going to double check to see if I can twist it out tomorrow!

 

[Plumber69]

It is copper sticking out right?

 

[legendr34]

I actually found a picture of the install, its not really clear though....

 

[Plumber69]

Looks like a wing 90 to me. Try to unthread it with your hands

 

[hj]

The shower stub unscrews, but the "wall head" does NOT.

 

[Terry]

Kohler makes some shower arms that are a slip fit to 1/2" copper. I've installed a few. Some of the new trims for them use 1/2" copper from the wall.