Cylinder Head nut tightening

[mikebro]

I will shortly be retightening the cylinder head nuts on my recently rebuilt 100A engine. Last time I did this, I had to take the carburetters off to get at two of the right hand side nuts (the ones that need a socket, not the ones that use the cranked spanner) as they are underneath the front and rear carb mounting brackets. Has anyone managed to get at these with a modified socket or whatever, and if so, could you detail? The carbs are nicely set up now, and I don't want to disturb them unless I have to. Thanks in advance....

[David C]

You should be able to grind down a socket, both by tapering the top and shortening the bottom so that it will fit in.

Just checking - do you have original Bristol studs or later replacements? All those I have spoken to recently who regularly rebuild these engines suggest that the original studs were not up to much and will stretch.
Also ensure you have good quality washers about twice the thickness used elsewhere on the engine.

The replacement studs with nuts supplied by TT Workshops years ago were 9/16" across the flats so required a bit of DIY to make up the tools.
The spanner not only required a bit of encouragement from the oxy acetylene torch but also the ring end needed to be ground a little around the periphery.

https://www.bristolcars.info/forums/...1&d=1760365462
https://www.bristolcars.info/forums/...1&d=1760365462
https://www.bristolcars.info/forums/...1&d=1760365462

[mikebro]

[quote=David C;13977]You should be able to grind down a socket, both by tapering the top and shortening the bottom so that it will fit in.

That's very helpful David and thank you.

I have rebuilt the engine with the studs and nuts that were already there. they all seemed in good condition. The engine had been back to Bristols in 1958, had been bored +10thou and new oversized pistons fitted. Maybe they replaced the studs then - I don't know. The washers are a good thickness, What I found on dismantling agreed with the summary on the service record. Time will tell if the studs stretch - I tightened down several times after rebuilding, and before I fitted the carbs etc and installed the engine back in the car. Here's hoping!