VR6 spark plugs cables

[Eeffinger at conestogac.on.ca (Edward Effinger)]

Good morning fellow listers.
 
I was changing spark plugs for a friend on the weekend on an 84 VR6
Passat.
I have a spark plug plier for the boot, but was not able to use it much
as the space
is pretty tight.
 
I had trouble getting the boot onto the front 2 cylinders, 4 and 6 as
they go right
through the intake manifold.
 
Are there any tricks or special tools for this?
 
Thanks
Ed '81S