Rocker Box Removal - Spline Socket?

[Marty V8]

Hi,

Iam attempting to remove my rocker boxes to give them a bit of a clean, but mainly to have a look inside to see if everything is okay.

The rocker box bolts are a spline head and take an 8mm spline socket. Ive got a 3/8 in drive spline socket that is the right size fit on the head and I can get the front drivers side bolt out, but cant get it past the water rail pipes on the drivers side to get to the rear bolt.

Before I go and buy more tools, will a long reach 1/4 drive socket fit (Ive seen Sealey 1/4 drive deep sockets for sale on t'internet), or do they need a specialist tool from somewhere?

Thanks

Cheers

Marty

[v8 racing]

1/4 drive 8mm or 5/16 is fine

[Marty V8]

Thanks for the replies. To hell with the expense, I'll buy myself some sockets - cant get them singly.

Quinny - good tip mate, thanks for that. However, with my luck, I'd probably end up fracturing the water pipe.

Cheers

Marty

[Marty V8]

Quinny said:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Looks like a torx (or star)socket rather than a spline socket? Is this what you have used?

[v8 racing]

I would be carefull listening to quinny, i have seen his toolbox, sledge hammers and chissels come to mind!

[v8 racing]

Quinny said:

v8 racing said:

I would be carefull listening to quinny, i have seen his toolbox, sledge hammers and chissels come to mind!

I'll have you know, I have a much more complete set than that


There's the crowbar, some bailing twine, and a few 6" nails




What else do you need to work on a TVR

Ha ha just a shed load of sanity!

[Marty V8]

I managed to borrow a spline socket from a friend and got hold of the one in the picture. Does a multipoint socket fit the bolt pictured? Sorry to labour the point and all that.

[v8 racing]

looks good to me but may be a bit fat to get down the windscreen side of the water pipes

[Marty V8]

Ta once more

Off to Halfrauds tomorrow lunchtime.

If the multi-point socket doesnt work, I'll have to use a precision instrument instead

And if that fails, I'll have to refine the process even more


Cheers

Marty

[crackedfinger]

Marty V8 said:

Ta once more

Off to Halfrauds tomorrow lunchtime.

If the multi-point socket doesnt work, I'll have to use a precision instrument instead

And if that fails, I'll have to refine the process even more


Cheers

Marty

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_202107_langId_-1_categoryId_165469#dtab

I think it's this one you want, good luck finding a store with it is stock. Halford's are terrible at keeping stock of the good tools.

I have this is the old professional socket set, it's the deep 8mm socket.

[dnb]

A deep 8mm 3/8" drive socket from Halfrauds works fine.

[Marty V8]

Thanks all,

In stock at local Halfords according to their website - so there's at least a slim chance that they'll have one in the store.

[Colin RedGriff]

Those water pipes still make access difficult even with a the right socket and extension bars. I ended up replacing the multi point bolts with cap head screws. Much easier to access with an allen key.

[Marty V8]

got a 3/8in deep drive multipoint socket from Halfords today. Got home tried it. Does it fit? - does it hell.

No way its going to go between the water rail and the rocker box. The shoulder of the socket wont pass between water rail and the side of the rocker box. Dont know if the water rail mounting tab is bent or what but its not happening - bugger !!!

I'll have to see if I can get a 1/4in drive socket instead.

[Marty V8]

Oh yeah, so it does



In my feeble defence though, I didnt know if it was a fragile bit of pipework and I didnt want to fracture it the first time I worked on it. I'll know for next time though.

Considering replacing these things with Allen key type socket head bolts instead.

Thanks once again.

[dnb]

Allen screws. A good idea, but remember that the thread is UNC (or is it UNF? Can't remember) not metric, so you'll need imperial allen keys. There is no convenient metric "best fit" like the 8mm multipoint socket.

[spend]

Mmmmmm studs...



http://album.dspen.co.uk/2010/05/24/rimg0001.jpg

[Marty V8]

Ooh nice box....if thats the correct phrase. What are they from?

Studs look to be a usable alternative as well.

[spend]

All the rest are well... just second best

[Marty V8]

Car porn at this time of the day, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Got any more photos???