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I'm stuck! Is there a secret to getting a wrench on the bolt located between the choke port and the EGR valve port? I can not get a 9/16" box wrench on it - it wont fit between the two ports. A 1/2" drive socket wont fit between them either. I don't have my 1/4" drive 9/16 socket with me but it seems that the shaft extension won't fit squarely in there as it will be hampered by the top of the manifold.
Do I need a special wrench? When I get back tomorrow I will bring all my 1/4" drive sockets, extensions, universal joint and see if that works. But if you know a better way, please share it!
My Old / 1970's Mac and Craftsman wrenches fit in that spot just fine. (although you only get a small amount of rotation). At some point / throughout the years Craftsman's quality "dropped" and cheaper materials were used, resulting in a "thicker" wrench (to help prevent breaking). I can see the differences between my dads old wrenches and ones that I bought in the 90's. His old wrenches are about 1/2 as "thick" - yet they are very strong, and I've broken quite a few of the "newer ones" which are thicker (but weaker).
If you have an old 9/16 wrench, you could grind around the outside of the wrench so it will fit in between. (That's if the socket, u-joints don't work. Thin-wall sockets work best.).
If you can't get it any other way, you may be able to weld a 1/2" nut on a short - 9/16 thin-wall socket and get it with a wrench "further up", but I can't imagine it would come to that.
I don't think I've ever had an issue getting a Mac or Snap-on Wrench on that bolt. I'll have to try it on the L82 intake I have out in the garage. They should only be about 30ft/lbs and "usually" those bolts in the center are the loosest ones! Someone really must have went crazy on yours'.
Last edited by 76C3forme; Jul 13, 2016 at 09:57 PM.
I'm stuck! Is there a secret to getting a wrench on the bolt located between the choke port and the EGR valve port? I can not get a 9/16" box wrench on it - it wont fit between the two ports. A 1/2" drive socket wont fit between them either. I don't have my 1/4" drive 9/16 socket with me but it seems that the shaft extension won't fit squarely in there as it will be hampered by the top of the manifold.
Do I need a special wrench? When I get back tomorrow I will bring all my 1/4" drive sockets, extensions, universal joint and see if that works. But if you know a better way, please share it!
Thanks
thin wall socket with a flex knuckle will do the trick.
My Old / 1970's Mac and Craftsman wrenches fit in that spot just fine. (although you only get a small amount of rotation). At some point / throughout the years Craftsman's quality "dropped" and cheaper materials were used, resulting in a "thicker" wrench (to help prevent breaking). I can see the differences between my dads old wrenches and ones that I bought in the 90's. His old wrenches are about 1/2 as "thick" - yet they are very strong, and I've broken quite a few of the "newer ones" which are thicker (but weaker).
If you have an old 9/16 wrench, you could grind around the outside of the wrench so it will fit in between. (That's if the socket, u-joints don't work. Thin-wall sockets work best.).
If you can't get it any other way, you may be able to weld a 1/2" nut on a short - 9/16 thin-wall socket and get it with a wrench "further up", but I can't imagine it would come to that.
I don't think I've ever had an issue getting a Mac or Snap-on Wrench on that bolt. I'll have to try it on the L82 intake I have out in the garage. They should only be about 30ft/lbs and "usually" those bolts in the center are the loosest ones! Someone really must have went crazy on yours'.
I just used a thin wall SK socket and torqued it too.
thin wall socket with a flex knuckle will do the trick.
this. or a good quality 9/16" universal is even shorter. you need good quality without a lot of slop not a cheap or worn out one. then replace the bolts with aftermarket ones with smaller heads if you don't want to deal with it again.
Thanks all. As said by many this is a great place for good advice and info. Going to start with the 1/4" drive because I have one . Then a new thin wall socket. Already have one broken bolt thats what caused this don't want another one.
I'm planning to keep the exahust crossover open and use the carb mounted hot air choke. Some say you get better performance by blocking those ports off. Is it a big performance gain? I want to get the car back on the road and dont want to deal with an electric choke install now. Does not seem to be a lot of work just not now.
If I do block it off now, the choke wont work right. But, the coldest temp this car will ever see is maybe a low of 45 degrees and that will be a rare fall day. So, does it matter?
thin wall socket with a flex knuckle will do the trick.
I agree thats what I use... BTW in regards to the craftsmen tools comment above. Many people have no idea they are made in china now and have been for years (unlike the incorrect statement in the Toby Keith song which shows people will continue to assume they arent due to the power of brand marketing) Husky used to make them for sears but now there is only one American tool company left that I know of for sure (snapon)
Last edited by augiedoggy; Jul 14, 2016 at 08:34 AM.
I agree thats what I use... BTW in regards to the craftsmen tools comment above. Many people have no idea they are made in china now and have been for years ....
I've heard that as well. I haven't bought a Craftsman Tool / Socket or Wrench since the very early 90's and I was seeing the difference back then. Not sure when they went to China (Like everything else it seems).....Everything made in China, no quality, nothing lasts. A "disposable society", I guess...
Last edited by 76C3forme; Jul 14, 2016 at 10:45 AM.
I'm planning to keep the exahust crossover open and use the carb mounted hot air choke. Some say you get better performance by blocking those ports off. Is it a big performance gain? I want to get the car back on the road and dont want to deal with an electric choke install now. Does not seem to be a lot of work just not now.
If I do block it off now, the choke wont work right. But, the coldest temp this car will ever see is maybe a low of 45 degrees and that will be a rare fall day. So, does it matter?
I tried blocking the port off on my '69/427/390 and I went back to running it open. Works better for me here in SoCal.