#8 spark plug bitch tip
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 1
From: Spring Hill,Kansas
#8 spark plug bitch tip We had all 7 plugs off in 20 minutes or so we spent 3 hours trying to get the #8 plug off. I tried the ratchet + 1 inch extension or 1 inch swivel NO LUCK AT ALL. My forearm/hands are way to big to get in there to get to it so my brother was doing all the hard work. We tried somthing kinda sounds scary. We broke the porcelan tip off the plug jacked the car up I HAVE LONGTUBES I'm not sure if you can do this with stock manifolds. But with the tip on the plug we were unable to get a 5/8 plug socket on the plug with the tip on there under the car. We broke the tip off and were able to get the socket on the plug and it came right out. Car has 91K miles on it with factory plugs 
Damn previous owners never changed them
Damn previous owners never changed them 
On the tree
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
I kept hearing the horror stories. I dont know why though. I did the #8 first and it took me 5 minutes to get it out from under neath the car. I even pulled the coil packs and could of ahve got it from the top if I had pulled the coils packs before I crawled under the car.
remove the coil packs...if you need more room, take the valve cover off.
oh and when you are done getting that rear most coil pack bolt off, throw it out. it's unnecessary and the biggest PITA to get off
oh and when you are done getting that rear most coil pack bolt off, throw it out. it's unnecessary and the biggest PITA to get off
I always do #8 from below. Always, always, always put antiseize on the manifold studs before reassembly if you have ever had them off. I'd guess that the majority of members here no longer have cats and most have headers, but if you happen to still have stock exhaust manifolds and cats, it helps tremendously to remove the passenger side cat. If you've not had the cat off and don't want to risk snapping a stud or two, then you can still get #8 off from below, but your room and leverage are limited.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,627
Likes: 2,543
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I get #8 from the top. I pull the AIR line and move the TB cables, that's it. Since I have a '98, I don't have a coil rail, all the coils bolt individually to the valve cover. I just leave 'em on and work around it. Sounds hard, but I actually think it's easier than trying to remove and reinstall that back coil pack without the rail.
I've got decent sized forearms as well, so it's not easy but it only takes me about 30 mins to swap that #8 plug now using my method. The rest take another 30-45 mins. Usually about 1.25 hours for the full change. Maybe 1.5 if I'm feeling tired.
I've got decent sized forearms as well, so it's not easy but it only takes me about 30 mins to swap that #8 plug now using my method. The rest take another 30-45 mins. Usually about 1.25 hours for the full change. Maybe 1.5 if I'm feeling tired.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 1
From: Spring Hill,Kansas
yeah we didnt touch the coil packs. My brother said it was pretty tight from underneath but he had that #8 out in a minute or 2. Hopefully my hands will fit up in there from under I didnt try. We got lucky the stock plugs didnt appear to have anti seize on them...everything went back together great. Hopefully with anti seize on there now they will come off alot easier. They were on there like someone used an impact gun to tighten them
Launching!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Wichita Falls, TX
Originally Posted by iamsickofitall
remove the coil packs...if you need more room, take the valve cover off.
oh and when you are done getting that rear most coil pack bolt off, throw it out. it's unnecessary and the biggest PITA to get off
oh and when you are done getting that rear most coil pack bolt off, throw it out. it's unnecessary and the biggest PITA to get off
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I used an extension and a pivot (don't know if that's the correct name, elbow?) from the top, assembling it from the plug backwards.
For the life of me I couldn't get it from the bottom without a set of eyes on top to guide me. I don't think I had the car jacked up high enough.
For the life of me I couldn't get it from the bottom without a set of eyes on top to guide me. I don't think I had the car jacked up high enough.
im 6'4" and 170lbs, dont remember exactly how but i pretty much hopped up and stood on the battery and had no problems at all removing #8, or any others, maybe its just my long skinny arms that make that tight space seem a lot bigger haha...also i decided to wear some gloves just in case i slipped, learned that the hard way far too many times...
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by RPM WS6
I get #8 from the top. I pull the AIR line and move the TB cables, that's it. Since I have a '98, I don't have a coil rail, all the coils bolt individually to the valve cover. I just leave 'em on and work around it. Sounds hard, but I actually think it's easier than trying to remove and reinstall that back coil pack without the rail.
I've got decent sized forearms as well, so it's not easy but it only takes me about 30 mins to swap that #8 plug now using my method. The rest take another 30-45 mins. Usually about 1.25 hours for the full change. Maybe 1.5 if I'm feeling tired.
I've got decent sized forearms as well, so it's not easy but it only takes me about 30 mins to swap that #8 plug now using my method. The rest take another 30-45 mins. Usually about 1.25 hours for the full change. Maybe 1.5 if I'm feeling tired.
Originally Posted by blackbirdls1
Remove coil pack rail and it will only take 5 minutes with proper tools.
Did the plugs last night for like the 10th time and they were all off in under 20-30 minutes. Taking the Passanger side coil off just opens the entire space right up.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,117
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
I do it from the top....#8 comes out and the new one is back in.......4-5 minutes max. and effortlessly to boot.
Its all about the tools and not tightening the bitch down too much the last time you did them.
.
Its all about the tools and not tightening the bitch down too much the last time you did them.
.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,117
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
Originally Posted by BANDITCAR
Could you list a rundown of "the proper tools"
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