And attach a removeable patch of sheet metal that can be bolted on. Access under the carpet may be tricky but it's doable.
I've seen it done on several cars.
_________________
Pierre
69 2002 (track/canyon carver)
74 2002 tii (toy)
74 2002 (for sale)
74 2002 (project)
76 530i (continuous running project)
79 323i (toy)
97 M3 4-door (wife)
89 325i (DD)
91 318is (DD)
O==00==O
And Chris Culpen still owes me $950.

Unbolt the transmission support, lower it about an inch (careful with the exhaust!), put a piece of wooden beam between the left side of the transmission and the tunnel and use that as a lever to make the space bigger. That should be enough to get a long extended ratchet all the way there.
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Keep on rolling in the free world!

I took a 13mm box end wrench and put a steeper bend on it. Do this incrementally until you reach the right amount and you may want to use a little heat if you can. I then cut it in about the middle and overlapped the two halves until it was the correct length and welded it back together. If you don't have a welder you could just cut it down to size. I used a cheap wrench like the ones found at harbor freight etc., but you could go craftsmen and return it if you totally bugger it up. I can reach in there and drop the slave without any problem. Probably the cheapest specialty tool you will ever own.

HTH

1/4" drive ratchet & few different length extensions as mentioned above, and take small piece of wood & wedge it in there & hammer the sheet metal back a little more to make a bigger pocket around that top nut can also help.
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2002 owner since 1980

skipsfcr wrote:

This is a situation where professional quality tools are in order... A sturdy 1/4" drive ratchet, a couple of extensions (4" long & 6" or more), a universal joint (socket) and a 13mm shallow socket are especially handy for this task. So in short, yes, it can be done but it's difficult without the right tools.

This is the easiest/quickest way. Extensions and universal joints are your friends.


Cris
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I bought one of those cheesy $9.99 flex-tube wrenches from Ace hardware or something. It just a 12" or so long piece of flexible tubing that holds it's shape well enough that you can weasel it in to tight spaces. I never use these tool for anything else, but for the task at hand, it's absolutely perfect.