Who makes the thinest thin wall 12 point sockets?

[shoedoos]

Before cutting up my long reach 1/2" socket, I am hoping somebody might know who sells long, thin wall, 12-point, 1/2" sockets. Needs to go down between the valve springs (1.625) on Brodix BB heads.

I'm using 12-point nuts and that has given me room to get down there but my SK socket has a step back up to a thicker wall and won't pass the springs.....

Yes, I can machine it, just thought I'd check for other options first...

[cgarb]

Snap on...or a Chinese socket and a lathe.

[miniv8]

For a crappy clearance situation like this, I use long nuts from conventional roller rocker studs.
You can use them as standard, but then it has really small surface area on the shim. I like to butt weld two of them together with the nut ends facing outward, and grind down the points of the lower nut for more surface and clearance.

With decent springs on a sbc, having to take them out to tighten down the head just plain sucks.

[BOOT]

When I needed to find a thin wall socket for something else I think Durulast at Autozone worked, I basically just took my caliper n ran the gauntlet of local stores.

edit: Did you try a 3/8 size socket with a 1/2 to 3/8 adapter? Usually works for me when needing smaller sockets, unless it's a larger size like when I went store to store.

[shoedoos]

Cheers for the advice, I am open to a 3/8 drive and adapter as well.....any thoughts on using impact sockets like the following on ebay?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190740964201?ss ... 1436.l2649

[Scotty]

Snapon 3/8 dve 1/2inch pt#fdh150

[fdicrasto]

Do you have a measurement on the thickness you need(max)?

[shoedoos]

The head of my present SK socket is approximately 3/4" and it fits down between the springs. The socket steps to approximately 7/8" further up and interferes with the spring.

[shoedoos]

Snapon 3/8 dve 1/2inch pt#fdh150

Scotty, are you meaning the FDH160 as per this ebay listing?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-Tools-3 ... Swax5YoN99

[gnicholson]

thinnest wall socket is a 3/8 snap on spline socket

[Scotty]

Yes .i think when i got mine it was referd to as an aircraft socket ?? Thats the reason i got it for doing sbc head nuts between the centre springs.

[Scotty]

I might as well add it is .675" od & 1.730" long,hope this helps.

[pdq67]

Will one of the new sockets that have square flutes in them work. I think they are, "universal", type fitting ones.

I bought a 3/8" SAE set from either Lowes or Home Depot for something like &10.00 on sale a while back just to have.

Wished I would have bought the metric set too.

pdq67

[shoedoos]

pdq67 - do you have a link to these?

[steve316]

I have installed with out valve springs; then install springs after the head is torqued.