Ah.. such a PITA. I felt like the project car at SZ. EVERYONE stood around me and I felt liek a fool that I couldn't get this damn o2 sensor out myself. Nevertheless, after trying all of the hard things first.. we ran across an 02 socket that was small enough to get the job done. Autozone had a kit with the taller one you speak of, and a small one.

God, don't remind me about doing that again.