How tight do I tighten the spark plugs?
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11 ft/lb is the spec in the GM manual for LS1 heads, unless they are new heads. First time plug install on new heads is listed at 15 ft/lb (factory first time only), but all following installations should be 11 ft/lb.
Honestly I don't use a TQ wrench though. You get used to the feel. Just a tad past tight is good.
Honestly I don't use a TQ wrench though. You get used to the feel. Just a tad past tight is good.
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Originally Posted by Ferocity02
Ah, on the box of NGK's it said 18-21 ft/lbs
#11
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The torque spec shown in posts above IS for aluminum heads. Nearly ALL LS heads are aluminum. The exception is some 6.0 truck heads from around 2000.
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11 ft/lb is the spec in the GM manual for LS1 heads, unless they are new heads. First time plug install on new heads is listed at 15 ft/lb (factory first time only), but all following installations should be 11 ft/lb.
Honestly I don't use a TQ wrench though. You get used to the feel. Just a tad past tight is good.
Honestly I don't use a TQ wrench though. You get used to the feel. Just a tad past tight is good.
I use a torque wrench and do 11 ft/lb per GM spec. No issues on the 99TA and it's had like a dozen plug changes. A little anti-seize helps too.
#17
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The LSx engine plug changes aren't anything like the horror of prior generation Ford Mod motors eating spark plugs for breakfast and regurgitating $1,000+ repair bills on a regular basis.
My girlfriend's son spent $1,800 to get the plugs changed in his 06 F150 Triton 5.4 changed because they all broke. Didn't matter at all the change was attempted hot. He was lucky they could all be extracted. A coworker spent $2,400 for a plug change on her 4.6 Mustang when one plug broke in each head and part of it fell into the cylinder. Several others broke also etc. Both heads had to be pulled.