SSI HE Install help

[sdmcoupe]

I'm struggling to install the three locking nuts on the driver side HE. There's no straight shot to any of these. Wondering if there is some specialty tools needed for this job. Or any tricks to get these installed. I'm using a 1/4" universal with socket and extension but not having much luck.

Thanks,
Rob
1970 911S

[Danimal16]

You need the angled wrench that SSI makes for this purpose. It came with my sets, but that was before Dansk bought out the original SSI.
The photo shows four of these wrenches.

[EC900]

“I'm using a 1/4" universal with socket and extension but not having much luck.”

Confined as it may be, did you try a swivel socket vs. a socket attached to a universal socket extension? Even trying a “wobbler” extension might be solution.

[john walker's workshop]

You can get at them with a little patience and a short 13mm box end wrench.

[Damon88]

Grab a 12 or 13mm wrench. Heat it up with torch. Bend accordingly. worked for me.

[thetorch]

These work me. I have to use both.

Short flex head 13mm ratcheting wrench for the inner ones

https://www.amazon.com/Ratcheting-Combination-Flex-Head-Hardened-Vanadium/dp/B08T6X6L85

13mm offset box end for the outer ones:

https://www.amazon.com/Capri-Tools-75-Degree-Offset-Double/dp/B08KRPTYSQ

[PeteKz]

The pictures above remind me of olde American "distributor wrenches". That allowed you to get at the distributor clamp bolt underneath the distributor body.

I use a 1/4" drive wobble extension with a 12mm socket. A 3/8 drive will also work. And just to make it even easier, I filed a couple small notches in the pinch-welded edges of my SSI's to reduce the angle a little more. Why 12mm? Because I've replaced the 13mm nuts with 12mm flange nuts, like on Japanese cars. BMW also uses them, copper plated, for exhaust nuts (and Pelican sells those too, cheap). With the flange, those nuts sit on the top of the socket instead of falling down inside, so it's much easier to get the nuts started on the studs when reinstalling.

Also important: The tunnels in the heat exchangers are big enough for a 12mm socket to fit through them to access the "inside" exhaust nuts, but a 13 will not fit through there.

It is way easier to take the nuts off or on using a socket and wobble extension than wrenches, even the specially bent ones.

[sdmcoupe]

Thanks everyone. I'll give these a try. Much appreciated.