I continue to be frustrated / amazed at how parts from a single manufacturer do not simply bolt together. I purchased a factory Porsche exhaust. Installing it may have been the most physical activity I did this week.
In theory, it. Should have been as easy as sliding the mounting flanges over the bolts and guiding the tubes over the heat control box pipe. Instead, it became a combination of balancing, shoving, and cursing. I suspect to my neighbors it appeared I was hosting a high school level wrestling match between myself and a large grey tube. After much persuasion (i.e. more cursing, and use of a rubber mallet) it was finally installed. This resulted in relief and dismay. Relief that it was installed. Dismay that due to shuffling and trying to balance its weight, I had scratched the paint on the heater boxes in several places.
A bit of good news on the parts front. I can confirm that the Porsche factory supplied M8 Hex Nut (Part # 502-08-310) are 12mm across the flat (ATF). Used on exhaust components among other places.
