Tools for removing heat exchangers
 

Can some one please tell me what sockets, wrenches or home made tool you use to get these exchangers off? Ive tried every combination and I cant get a good hold on the nut. Im afraid im going to round them off. Please help. Pics would be nice if you have them. Thanks

first and foremost, you need a torch to get each nut red hot. oxy/acet is best. failing that, you will probably break some studs. then that's another batch of tools you'll need. 3/8" ratchet, 10" extension, 13mm swivel socket for the nuts. 6" long 8mm allen socket for the barrel nuts. the nuts usually come off easy with heat. the barrel nuts take more heat. red hot and wait until they "cool" to a dull red before trying to loosen them or they will round out. then you'll need more tools for that. if they don't let go the first time, reheat and try again. good luck.

I recently had SSIs put on so everything is coming off without a problem so far. I just cant seem to get a good hold on the nuts. All the barrel nuts are removed and came off easy. Also the nuts that were used on my car are 12mm. I think the swivel socket is what I need. I tried a swivel extender and it didnt work. Thanks for the help I'll let you know how it goes.

Never had any problem with the SC. The 13mm combination wrench, 13mm deep offset wrench, a long allen socket, are all I have ever needed on an SC. I know that you have 12mm so subs for the 12mm size and that would be all. On an earlier 70, I have had to use an obstruction wrench, the thing that looks like wrench used to get to a holding nut at the base of a distributor. Don't know if that comes in 12mm or not.

Offset wrench, like the one that comes with the SSI's works best for the nuts.

So.... the swivel socket worked great. Exchangers are off. Thanks for the help guys

I was fortunate to remove the threaded fasteners from a 3.2, without high drama but with some nervous moments. Not having the proper bent wrench for the hex nuts, use a 6-pt. socket, a hex-to-3/8" drive adapter and a 13mm combo wrench. See below.

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Regular tools work fine when the fasteners are fresh and in good shape. Unfortunately, after 30+ years, that usually isn't the case. Here's my backup tool list. None of the following are typical threaded fastener tools You do want to remove Porsche heat exchangers, right?

- Dremel or equiv. rotary tool with small ~ 1/2" - 3/4" cutting disks
- Large HD bladed screwdriver
- Kroil or equivalent
- Heat (oxyacetylene or equivalent)

I highly recommend soaking the stud/nut areas with your favorite corrosion buster. I use Kroil because it works. If it doesn't budge, apply heat to the threaded assembly Minimizing overheating the stud. It will bend easily in the red hot state and possibly snap or if not, permanently distort. Then apply more Kroil. The expanding nut will allow some lube to seep into the joint and break the hold. Let it cool before applying torque. Repeat the heat-Kroil-cool-loosen pattern as necessary until the nut (or stud from head) nudges loose.

Do the same to the barrel nuts. However, with most old, corroded barrel nuts, the internal hex shape may soon distort until the hex wrench is just a hopeless bystander. This one did (distort) and didn't (want to budge), at first.

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Like others who have done this, make a strategic slice with the cutoff wheel almost through the nut body but w/o touching the stud and at a location to insert a longish lever into the slot. Continue the slice into the hex cavity, then drive a large pry bar (large screwdriver) into it, then rotate it in the lefty-loosey direction. Hopefully, it will groan a little. If it doesn't budge, add a little more lube, then a little more heat. Then apply more lube and work it back and forth to loosen the flotsum and jetsum. The stud with its barrel nut may unthread from the head. It's all good.

This part of engine disassembly, other than cleaning parts, is the least fun, but sometimes necessary.

Best wishes,
Sherwood

Snap on makes a really nice, but expensive, 13mm swivel ball impact extension. Impact wrenches do a great job of loosening stubborn heat exchanger nuts and this Snap On extension fits great and will break loose even the most recalcitrant nuts.

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