help with stuck Vanos 8mm hex caps

[Russianblue]

I'm doing an 'experimental' head gasket change on my kids old 200k Xer. It overheated slightly in January (failed 1 year old OE expansion tank) and has been losing coolant very slowly, until recently, and it will overheat now almost as soon as it gets to temp. no leaks : ) water pump, radiator, T-Stat, entire cooling system has less than 10k miles.

I've been watching 50sKid and ShoplifeTV and I'v got the valve cover off, the intake is removed and I was well on my way.

Then I went to loosen the 8mm hex caps on the vanos unit and they aren't going ANYWHERE. Even with an 18" breaker bar. I felt the hex give a tiny amount and I stopped immediately. it probably stripped the holes about 1/64 inch. There's a TINY amount of slack but it WILL strip if I apply any more force. I know it will.

Mind you, it's not stripped YET. I can still put probably 40 ft lbs to it before it even starts to make me worried. but that's not enough.

If anybody has any ideas on how I might be able to get these things out, I'd appreciate it. I'm willing to use a dremel or drill if need be. I imagine you can come by these vanos cap replacements fairly cheap. I just need to go ahead and get this head off so I can see if this thing is worth salvaging.

thanks!