Uber tool against spark plug #8!
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 345
Likes: 1
From: TX
Uber tool against spark plug #8! My 98Z just went over 20k, and considering how bad the junk factory ACs on my SS were at 50k, decided to do the plugs. With the SS I had a real rough time with #8, ended up doing it from the bottom using a swivel ratchet with a short cheater bar for added leverage cause the plug was tight as hell. 
Did #8 last.
This time I decided to do #8 1st and figured there had to be a better way. So I put plug socket with a 3" extension on #8 and just studied the situation, considering the angle shown by the extension, the amount of room in there, available access path into that tight corner.
Looked thru my tool collection to see what I could use, and I considered EVERYTHING, no holds barred. In the drawer with the breaker bars, the swivel tip on the 1/2" breaker was sitting at an enticing angle. So I popped a 5/8 socket on it and gave it a try. No go, exaust manifold hit bar before socket got to plug. Tried a 2" universal, too long, wouldn't allow swing. Then I got the idea to put a 1/2 to 3/8 adapter on the bar and use a 3/8 12 point socket. Bingo! perfect lenght. Pic:
In action:
Plug was tight as hell, but the leverage of the long breaker bar made short work of breaking it loose. I tried to switch to a swivel 3/8 ratchet with a short extension, but lacked swing room. So I just used the breaker again. I'd pop it off after a swing, reposition it on the plug and swing again. 12 point was better for that. After plug backed off enough to get easy, popped the bar off the adapter and finished unscewing plug with my fingers.
Bar/adapter angle worked so well, I did all the passenger side plugs with it. In fact, I didn't even have to remove coils for tool access. I only removed #6's coil so I could get my hand at a good enough angle to remove #8 plug wire. Other than the AIR tube and oil filler cap, everything else stayed in place. So it was a super quick plug change, just over 4 hours.
Did #8 last. This time I decided to do #8 1st and figured there had to be a better way. So I put plug socket with a 3" extension on #8 and just studied the situation, considering the angle shown by the extension, the amount of room in there, available access path into that tight corner.
Looked thru my tool collection to see what I could use, and I considered EVERYTHING, no holds barred. In the drawer with the breaker bars, the swivel tip on the 1/2" breaker was sitting at an enticing angle. So I popped a 5/8 socket on it and gave it a try. No go, exaust manifold hit bar before socket got to plug. Tried a 2" universal, too long, wouldn't allow swing. Then I got the idea to put a 1/2 to 3/8 adapter on the bar and use a 3/8 12 point socket. Bingo! perfect lenght. Pic:
In action:
Plug was tight as hell, but the leverage of the long breaker bar made short work of breaking it loose. I tried to switch to a swivel 3/8 ratchet with a short extension, but lacked swing room. So I just used the breaker again. I'd pop it off after a swing, reposition it on the plug and swing again. 12 point was better for that. After plug backed off enough to get easy, popped the bar off the adapter and finished unscewing plug with my fingers.
Bar/adapter angle worked so well, I did all the passenger side plugs with it. In fact, I didn't even have to remove coils for tool access. I only removed #6's coil so I could get my hand at a good enough angle to remove #8 plug wire. Other than the AIR tube and oil filler cap, everything else stayed in place. So it was a super quick plug change, just over 4 hours.
