What kind of wrench do you use for this?

Elombard · 10-31-2002, 08:30 PM

I have noticed that it is extremely difficult to manipulate the 13 mm nut on the distributor of my SC motor. Is there a special wrench for this? I called Pelican, they didnt have anything.

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

I use an el-cheapo 13mm box wrench. Heated it up to bright red and bent it.

If you don't want to make the investment, buy the cheapest piece of @#$% 13mm wrench you can find and try and bend it in a vice (heat it to red if you can. If it breaks, then you've got a shorty to use, if it bends, you're in better shape.

Or try several swivels on a ratchet...

slakjaw · 10-31-2002, 08:38 PM

i used a crows foot

Jdub · 11-01-2002, 06:37 AM

Crows foot. You should have set of these in metric.

Look for the next Craftsman sale or steal a Snap On truck...

John

DavidPorter · 11-01-2002, 08:12 AM

There's a 13mm bent wrench sold by Alfa shops that will probably do fine. It's maybe 10" long with a right-angle bend at the bottom with a box wrench end and another bend at the top for leverage. Alfa Ricambi calls it tool #AL4488. Make sure it's 13mm before you order, but I'm pretty sure.

pwd72s · 11-01-2002, 10:49 AM

Sorry I missed this one earlier. Snap-on, a bent wrench made just for this dizzy job, and it's also handy for reaching the early 911 heat exchanger nut you have trouble with. I've had mine for years, but the number should be the same. S8704.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Here are 2 distributor wrenchs. The long thin 10mm at the top is the one that I used on my '69 boattail Alfa, apparantly they switched to a 13mm bolt sometime after '69. The lower one was a cheapie purchased at NAPA in '72, 13mm and just perfect for 911 distributors.

Kurt B · 11-01-2002, 01:49 PM

Can't use a bendable sprocket extension?
You can get those anywhere.

pwd72s · 02:33 PM

JUst checked a current snap-on catalog. Evidently, they no longer make a dizzy wrench with the old number I posted. However, looking in the book, I'd guess their S6173 would work. 13mm, said to be for '84 to '88 Ford Tempo & Topaz 2.3L engines.
13mm U jointed socket would work, but a solid bent wrench is much better. I'd check out NAPA as well, Bill's wrench looks good to me...last time my dizzy wrench was used? Ron's distributor. He seemed to think it was a cool tool to have....

speeder · speeder's Garage

I'm trying to remember, but I think that a regular 13mm socket+universal joint and long extension works fine. Otherwise I also have the snap-on "S" shaped 13mm that I always thought was designed for VW valve adjusting. It is handy for many jobs, including 911 heat exchangers, as Paul mentioned, 13mm box on both ends w/ two different depths of bend. I'm thinking that it does not go deep enough for 911 distributor, seems to me I used a socket as arranged above. Tyson or J.W. could settle this once and for all.

Elombard · 11-01-2002, 06:19 PM

Wow

Thanks for all of the help. I tried with a universal but it hits the vacuum thingy. I will look at Napa for the bent wrench or flag down the next Snap On truck I see.

campbellcj · 11-01-2002, 06:24 PM

The "other" PP sells a bent wrench for this purpose.

makaio · 11-01-2002, 06:58 PM

EBS racing has them, along with Skyway tools. The bent 13mm dizzy wrench, that is.

DavidPorter · 11-04-2002, 06:29 AM

The 13mm S-shaped VW wrench was for the exhaust manifold nuts. A number of companies also make C-shaped manifold wrenches (box on each end) that might work.