1st Spark Plug Change Report
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 690
Likes: 0
From: Cypress, Tx (Houston)
1st Spark Plug Change Report - Pics Finally got around to getting this done - it's amazing how much free time a guy has when he doesn't have a job 
Anyway, it went like this: Plugs 1-7 = 1 hour. Didn't remove anything except the air pipe on the passenger side.
Plug 8 - left the wires off 2, 4, & 6, had the air pipe off, pulled 4 bolts out of coil pack rack, loosened the far back bolt on the coil pack rack, rotated coil packs out of the way, ripped the wire out of the plug boot, jacked up the car and found less room than on top, let the car back down, knelt on the battery and cussed and sweated and finally got the plug boot off. Of course the metal clip was still on the plug. SMALL needle nose pliers from my daughter's little tool kit did the trick on that. Plug 8 = 1 hour 40 minutes.
Gearwrenches rock, buy the way.
Total time 2 hours 40 minutes. I think I can cut it in half next time
Will post pics of the plugs later. Not sure I like how they looked.
Anyway, it went like this: Plugs 1-7 = 1 hour. Didn't remove anything except the air pipe on the passenger side.
Plug 8 - left the wires off 2, 4, & 6, had the air pipe off, pulled 4 bolts out of coil pack rack, loosened the far back bolt on the coil pack rack, rotated coil packs out of the way, ripped the wire out of the plug boot, jacked up the car and found less room than on top, let the car back down, knelt on the battery and cussed and sweated and finally got the plug boot off. Of course the metal clip was still on the plug. SMALL needle nose pliers from my daughter's little tool kit did the trick on that. Plug 8 = 1 hour 40 minutes.
Gearwrenches rock, buy the way.
Total time 2 hours 40 minutes. I think I can cut it in half next time
Will post pics of the plugs later. Not sure I like how they looked.
Last edited by 01ArcticSS; Aug 4, 2005 at 06:26 PM.
First time theyve been changed? How many miles are on them? I need to change mine. I have a surge cruising at slower speeds, Im thinking my wires or plugs are messed up. I have no idea if they have ever been changed on my car, and it has 130k 
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 690
Likes: 0
From: Cypress, Tx (Houston)
Originally Posted by MattIROC
First time theyve been changed? How many miles are on them? I need to change mine. I have a surge cruising at slower speeds, Im thinking my wires or plugs are messed up. I have no idea if they have ever been changed on my car, and it has 130k
Surging could be the plugs/wires, but maybe also fuel filter/pump or an intake/vaccuum leak. Lots of things could cause it. Even air filter. Start with the simple stuff first!
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 690
Likes: 0
From: Cypress, Tx (Houston)
Originally Posted by taintedmeat
You have trouble breaking number 8 loose? It was a pita on mine, until I had the idea to use a cheater bar(jack handle) over the end of the ratchet. 
Nope - they all came loose way easier than I thought they would. Don't get me wrong, they were all plenty tight, but I guess I was expecting them to be tighter. 3/8 ratchet is all I needed (with proper extensions - didn't need a swivel for anything)
Only problem I had was the doggone wire on 8. Lost plenty of skin on that one!!
Trending Topics
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 1
From: Just This Side of Damnation
I changed my plugs for the first time last weekend. They look like yours, I guess they're stock? 79xxx mi.
I came at the #8 from around the top right side. I laid down on the fender and reached with my right hand to do all the screwing/unscrewing. I'm 6'3" so it wasn't too much of a stretch. I didn't have to use any exotic wrenches or pipes on the ratchet...That was nice.
I noticed that all my plugs' threads were brown and gummy like the ones in your photos. Any body know what that's all about? I put never-seize on the new ones before I put them in.
My times were a little better on the #8 than yours, but all the rest is pretty close. I took off all the coils before I even started on that side!!!
I came at the #8 from around the top right side. I laid down on the fender and reached with my right hand to do all the screwing/unscrewing. I'm 6'3" so it wasn't too much of a stretch. I didn't have to use any exotic wrenches or pipes on the ratchet...That was nice.
I noticed that all my plugs' threads were brown and gummy like the ones in your photos. Any body know what that's all about? I put never-seize on the new ones before I put them in.
My times were a little better on the #8 than yours, but all the rest is pretty close. I took off all the coils before I even started on that side!!!
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Originally Posted by Mr Incredible
I noticed that all my plugs' threads were brown and gummy like the ones in your photos. Any body know what that's all about?
Probably GM's idea of budget anti-seize
TECH Addict
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 0
From: Live Oak, FL - in the woods where the creatures lurk.
I did my 5th or 6th plug change at 130, xxx this week. Took about 2 hours if you count setting the gap (first time I ever had any NGK's that were all over the place), applying anti-sieze to the plugs, and several breaks b/c the humidity was about 30000%, LOL. I always save number 8 for last, I get it from the bottom in about 5 min including putting dialectric grease on the wire boots.
I still bleed a little every time.
I still bleed a little every time.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 1
From: Just This Side of Damnation
Originally Posted by taintedmeat
Probably GM's idea of budget anti-seize
I hope those same guys aren't on the new Camaro design team!
TECH Addict
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,335
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Originally Posted by 01ArcticSS
Finally got around to getting this done - it's amazing how much free time a guy has when he doesn't have a job
Anyway, it went like this: Plugs 1-7 = 1 hour. Didn't remove anything except the air pipe on the passenger side.
Plug 8 - left the wires off 2, 4, & 6, had the air pipe off, pulled 4 bolts out of coil pack rack, loosened the far back bolt on the coil pack rack, rotated coil packs out of the way, ripped the wire out of the plug boot, jacked up the car and found less room than on top, let the car back down, knelt on the battery and cussed and sweated and finally got the plug boot off. Of course the metal clip was still on the plug. SMALL needle nose pliers from my daughter's little tool kit did the trick on that. Plug 8 = 1 hour 40 minutes.
Gearwrenches rock, buy the way.
Total time 2 hours 40 minutes. I think I can cut it in half next time
Will post pics of the plugs later. Not sure I like how they looked.
Anyway, it went like this: Plugs 1-7 = 1 hour. Didn't remove anything except the air pipe on the passenger side.
Plug 8 - left the wires off 2, 4, & 6, had the air pipe off, pulled 4 bolts out of coil pack rack, loosened the far back bolt on the coil pack rack, rotated coil packs out of the way, ripped the wire out of the plug boot, jacked up the car and found less room than on top, let the car back down, knelt on the battery and cussed and sweated and finally got the plug boot off. Of course the metal clip was still on the plug. SMALL needle nose pliers from my daughter's little tool kit did the trick on that. Plug 8 = 1 hour 40 minutes.
Gearwrenches rock, buy the way.
Total time 2 hours 40 minutes. I think I can cut it in half next time
Will post pics of the plugs later. Not sure I like how they looked.
After having headers worked on I had a tick and Just had the plugs changed again and 2 of them were so lose the spun out without a ratchet. I suspect the performance shop that installed the headers removed the plugs so they would be out of the way and forget to tighten them all down.
Anyhow, I had another shop do the plugs for 97.00 labor abd the tick is gone. The mechanic was able to remove and reinstall the plugs a lot quicker with the car in the air. And, it was worth the 97 bones to save me from that aggrevation again.
For the guy with 130k. You defiantely need to get the plugs changed and do the wires while you are at. I use the MSD 8.5 and like those.
Originally Posted by ActionJack
For the guy with 130k. You defiantely need to get the plugs changed and do the wires while you are at. I use the MSD 8.5 and like those.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 690
Likes: 0
From: Cypress, Tx (Houston)
Originally Posted by 777
The brown gummy stuff looks more like oil to me 
Question for anyone - why oil on the threads only and not on any other part of the plug? Is it just burning off??
