Is there a trick tool for this situation?
 

Merc 454s with Gills and old school valve covers that have 5 studs with small nuts hold down bracket to keep valve covers from leaking. The two that are between the valve cover and the Gills is too tight to get fingers or wrench or anything else I can come up with on them .... super frustrating. Anyone know of a special tool or trick to getting those off without removing the Gills?

a pic might help?

The only possibility is to use a 1/4" drive ratchet with an extension and a U joint attached to the socket

One of these may help too, but it will depend on how tight the nuts are https://www.lowes.com/pd/GearWrench-...-In/1002919132

1/4 inch socket with extension and swivel to loosen. Once past the nylox section then use a spring loaded parts retriever clamped over the nut to remove the rest of the way. Worked for me anyway.

Mark

Even with the 1/4" drive, extension, and universal, you may not be able to get to them with those manifolds. Getting them back on is worse if not impossible. You need to back off the manifolds. A reusable, steel exhaust gasket is best so that you can back them off a little and then reseal.

Converting to angled valve covers makes this much easier, too.

Thanks everyone...tried the 1/4 inch extension with one and then with two knuckles...need to ask the wife to line it up as I cant get my meat hooks in there to direct to the socket and I dont have the mechanical skills to "see" it by feel like you guys do. Anyone got 2 sets of the valve covers TomZ is describing...or a linky?

Whole bunch here...

https://www.hardin-marine.com/c-357-...ock-chevy.aspx