finally changed the plugs myself
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Imperial, CA
finally changed the plugs myself I bought my 01 Z28 new, 9 years ago. Today after pondering many times I finally decided to change the plugs. Not too bad. It took me a little over 3 hours. Next time will be much shorter. The only issue was #8. Had to put the car up on some ramps and get it from underneath.
Yeah, #8 plug and wire is actually pretty easy to do from under the car, as long as you don't have Popeye sized forearms.
I used a regular size 3/8 ratchet, although I DID have a stubby on hand in case I needed it. I also had a few extensions, a 2 or 3", and a .75", which REALLY came in handy. No wobble extensions or u-joints needed.
Just take your time, the driver's side is easy, (you will need that .75" extension though)it's the pass side that will require patience. I really didn't remove anything, everyone tells you to move the coil rail, but the bolts were a PITA so I ended up leaving it alone. Hardest part is getting the ratchet at an angle where you can get a clean pull on it.
For the pass plugs (except #8), I ended up kneeling on the battery, and bracing myself with my right hand on the intake, and the left pulling straight up on the ratchet. If these are original plugs, they'll be in there good and tight.
When you put the new plugs in, be very careful not to crossthread them, and remember to put some anti-sieze on the threads, and dialectric grease in the spark plug boots. This way everything will come apart easier the next time you need to do it.
I used a regular size 3/8 ratchet, although I DID have a stubby on hand in case I needed it. I also had a few extensions, a 2 or 3", and a .75", which REALLY came in handy. No wobble extensions or u-joints needed.
Just take your time, the driver's side is easy, (you will need that .75" extension though)it's the pass side that will require patience. I really didn't remove anything, everyone tells you to move the coil rail, but the bolts were a PITA so I ended up leaving it alone. Hardest part is getting the ratchet at an angle where you can get a clean pull on it.
For the pass plugs (except #8), I ended up kneeling on the battery, and bracing myself with my right hand on the intake, and the left pulling straight up on the ratchet. If these are original plugs, they'll be in there good and tight.
When you put the new plugs in, be very careful not to crossthread them, and remember to put some anti-sieze on the threads, and dialectric grease in the spark plug boots. This way everything will come apart easier the next time you need to do it.
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Yea I did it for the first time myself yesterday after owning over 5 years. #8 was definitely a bitch, didn't help that half of the plugs including that one seemed to be at like 50lbs of torque, had to squeeze in a full size socket wrench with about a quarter inch of motion each time to get it off.
I didn't see how to get it from the bottom, seemed like there wasn't enough space with the cat there, looking down through the engine. Anyway it wasn't an option cause the jack is somewhere at my parents house.
I didn't see how to get it from the bottom, seemed like there wasn't enough space with the cat there, looking down through the engine. Anyway it wasn't an option cause the jack is somewhere at my parents house.
