Kansas City MINI Enthusiasts

Need advice...picked up an AR Design downpipe for the JCW Coupe, but hit an install issue. As you can see in the picture (may need to scroll) there is little/to no clearance on the lower rear studs/nuts. I had to switch from the OEM flange nuts to just get them started on the studs.
Talking the company I bought it from trying to get more info, but I'm starting to think that this DP wasn't tested with the JCW header. Any ideas on how to tight and torque down the lower nuts when so close to the exhaust header? Tried all my 13mm sockets and I don't think there is a thin wall socket that would get close. It is as much the diameter of the DP as it is the clearance to the header.

I have a few you're welcome to try, and a couple of wobble sockets too....you also might try putting a lock washer under the nut to space it back off the weld a tiny bit.

Would a 8x25mm socket head cap screw with a washer provide enough fastening force in this situation? I can get alloy or stainless versions

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/METRIC ... Pid=search

The cap screw of this size is spec'd for 17ft-lb and the OEM fasteners call for only 14.

I'm sure that would work fine!