mud,

The socket size/thickness doesn't matter as long as it's 8mm hex size. The socket I use is actually a Craftsman 3/8" 12 pt. socket. The length of the key is what's important.

You simply take the straight length of cut allen key and stick it in a regular 'ol 8mm socket. Works great for me.

KTL, my crapsman sockets (8mm, 6 and 12 pt, 3/8 drive) wouldn't fit through the access holes. I think I have on OE and one SSI, and I don't think it fit through either in my case.

Oh, just read your reply again, are you saying to use a 6" piece of key? If so I get what you are saying, but I didn't have any keys that long. I would have but it had already been cut for this before I checked to see that it would work.

Yep. That sounds like the right length. It's just long enough that the socket doesn't enter the access hole of the heat exchanger shrouding.

I hope my wife doesn't read this, she'll yell at me for not using enough ingenuity. I'll be banned from tool purchses for a month!
-Jeremy

The 8mm copper (plated?) flanged locking hex nuts with the 12mm external hex have this part no: 11621711954. They came instead of the Porsche part no.: 900.076.025.02 8mm hex nuts I requested per the factory illustrated parts catalog. If you look up the 116.... number you will find it is a BMW part number. The people filling the parts order for me knew what I was up to (installing SSI's on a '76) so they sent what they thought I needed and not what I asked for and they were right. The 900.076.025.02 part is probably just a regular 8mm hex nut with a 13mm external hex. Anyway, if you want the 8mm x 12mm copper flanged locking hex nuts Pelican has them (BW-11-62-1-711-954) for $0.53 each. Cheers, Jim

Well, here's an interesting twist to this thread. My SSI's came with the special box end wrench...but it is 13mm, not 12mm. The special wrench does make access really easy on a couple of the nuts. I haven't been able to find copper plated M8 hex nuts that are 13mm across the flats...just ones that are 12mm, so I have always wished I had the 12mm wrench.

BMW dealers are a good source of different styles of copper nuts...my local dealers usually have them in stock.

Thanks Jim and Bob for the information on the copper nuts. Much appreciated! SmileWavy

Thanks To All
 

Hey Guys,
I just want to thank you all for your help. TO give you all a quick update, this is what I did.
I soaked the nuts/bolts for 2x a day for 3 days and tried again today.
The tools I used were an 8mm hex head socket with 6" extension on a 3/8" drive ratchet. The socket fit throught the holes and I cracked each one loose. (IF it wouldn't have fit I would have put the extesion through the hole and then the socket either in the bolt or on top on the extension once through, but didn't have to.
For the nuts, I purchased a 13mm socket on a swivel like KTL suggested, with a 6" extension 3/8" drive. I cracked 4 loose and two were a little stubborn so I used some heat.
Resuts all 12 are now loose and NO BROKEN STUDS!
I can't wait to finish Saturday. I am trying to get a camcorder to put some before and after video/sound bytes on this site.

Thanks Again to All!
JeremySmileWavy

damn, great ending! good job.

Excellent! Don't forget to put "neverseize" on the stud threads upon reinstallation with new nuts. The recomendation I had was to only tighten the nuts to 15 ft-lbs, That is, the nuts a torgue wrench could be fitted to; some you have to do by feel after getting "calibrated" with the torque wrench. Cheers, Jim

Congrats on your success with ending up with 12 intact studs!! I'll definitely second Jim's good advice on using antisieze and new nuts.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1081469406.gif

Rock on! That's great news. Glad the 13mm swivel socket worked well.

And like Jim and Bob, i'll third the recommendation of antiseize paste. Clean the studs really well with a wire brush, a thread cutting die or whatever and then rinse with brake cleaner. Coat the studs liberally with the paste. Stuck exhaust nuts should not be a concern anymore.

Resurrecting an ancient, but very useful thread to ask..Why does SSI include a 12 mm wrench that really would be useful..but does not include the 8 x 12mm nuts. Do they sell these separately or just assume we will Search on Pelican and find the correct BMW part?
Puzzled as I await the correct fasteners to arrive from Pelican

The 12mm copper exhaust nuts are easy to find. In Seattle they are at B&B auto, Lowe's hardware and Schucks Auto. Just ask for exhaust nuts. They are definitely the right kind. Same ones that Steve Weiner mailed me. The self locking kind. I buy almost all my parts from Pelican, but some weekends you can't wait for the mail. :)

Thanks James, I will check out Lowes as well as some of our big box auto parts store.