I am replacing the broken air regulator on my compressor. Unforutnately,
there isn't enough room between the top of the tank and the plane of the
manifold outlet to rotate the new regulator onto the pipe nipple extending
out of the manifold.

Is there an elegant way to install this?

I could get a longer nipple, but then the regulator would be extending
beyond the tank, and would inevitably be hit and abused by all manner of
things (especially me).

If I screw the nipple way too far into the regulator, then I would have some
room to screw the nipple into the manifold, but that
wouldn't have the fittings anywhere as tight as I would like them to be.

I could remove the pump cylinders, remove the manifold, install the
regulator on the manifold, reinstall the manifold, then reinstall the pump
cylinders, but there is no way I want to even think about removing those
pump cylinders.

Right now, I am strongly considering dismantling the regulator itself, as
the body (without the gauge or knob/guts) will rotate onto the nipple
without hitting the tank.

Anyone got a better idea?

Jon