first spark plug & wire swap

[grayman]

i don't know what a 1" extension is...never seen or heard of it. you need like a 3"-5" exension for a 3/8" drive socket wrench..and a 3/8" socket wrench (doh!) and a Spark Plug Socket. there are basically two main sizes of spark plug sockets...i forget the exact size but you want the smaller one.

You might need two hands to twist the wire boot loose and to pull it off the spark plug.

Start the spark plug in by hand. Put the plug in the socket (with extension) and visually line up the plug to the threads in the heads. gently screw it in STRAIGHT. when it is as tight as you can get it by hand then switch to using the socket wrench. Get it SNUG. You don't need to REEF on it super hard...just sorta tight and snug.

[rhouse21]

I tried to change the plugs on my 97, but decided to do a little recon effort first cuz I heard what a pain it was.

The 4 front plugs: No problem. Piece of cake.

The 2 closest to the tranny: Oh-my-freaking-God!!! After about an hour and a half under the car trying to snap my wrist out of joint to get in there, I finally said screw it and drove over to Pepboys. They niavely quoted me $100 to change all six plugs, so I watched the tech in the shop struggle for about an hours to get the job done. Money well spent. It was actually worth the cost to watch this poor guy cuss at the car. [img]graemlins/naughty.gif[/img]

[FUPA]

i just changed em. I went to Lowes to find a 1 inch extension, and they don't exist. So yeah, it took me about an hour and a half to do all 6... kinda slow, but it was my first time. I broke my spark plug cherry today. The car has so much more pep now. I love knowing that i saved a ****load of money by doin this myself. Thanks you all.

[grayman]

dealership shop fees are an embarrassement to human existance.

[rhodeymark]

I'd like to thank all you people with no skin on your knuckles for making tubular manifolds become a reality. Shame on GM for waiting as long as they did. PS - another reason to burn iridiums if they really do go 60k flawlessly ~ rhodey

[96sc]

Doing my first plug change this weekend.

Question 1: anyone bother to use a torque wrench when installing the plugs? So far, I can only get my torque wrench on plug #2, so I'm wondering if you guys are just snugging the plugs with a ratchet.

Thanks,
96sc

[Greg94Red392]

Really no need to bump this topic, but yeah..just snug them up, you'll be fine.

[Abaddon]

I changed mine out on my 2000 Camaro and it was a breeze. I just had to get brave. I went out and got the new wires and plugs. I gapped each one to .057 (to allow for some expansion...the originals were in excellent shape for 100,000 miles but they opened slightly) and then I pulled the old wires out of the boots. Once the wires were out of the way, I figured out the trick to removing the boot AND the aluminium heat shields. Take a pair of adjustable pliers and put them on the lip of the heat shields. Then work it back and forth with some outward force until both pop right off.

This worked so well for me that it only took me 45 mins to do the passenger side without having to get under the car. I did them all from the top. I was dreading that side after the horror stories I've heard. It took longer to do the drivers side because the back one is pointed in the most inconvenient direction. Just have some courage and a spare vehicle in case you need to drive back to the store for something. I dropped one spark plug and cracked the side and had to get another one. Otherwise, it was flawless. And what a huge difference. Car runs better than new.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

Originally posted by 96sc:
Doing my first plug change this weekend.

Question 1: anyone bother to use a torque wrench when installing the plugs? So far, I can only get my torque wrench on plug #2, so I'm wondering if you guys are just snugging the plugs with a ratchet.

Thanks,
96sc

if you can get a TQ wrench on all 6 plugs and get a good reading, you should get a nobell prize !

[Abaddon]

Or a job at the circus in the Freak Show.

[StrtRacer98]

[img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] ^^^^^