I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

Well, I messed up this job... <img src="graemlins/gr_barf.gif" border="0" alt="[barf]" /> Almost feel sick to my stomach, know the feeling? Well here's what happened. I'm doing my header install right now and getting all excited I unbolted the entire passenger side manifold before I took off the y-pipe with my sawzall. So I'm cutting away at my y-pipe and get through it. All of a sudden bang, passengeer side manifold falls down. I thought it was good. So I take it out look up and oh $hit. On the back spark plug all the ceramic broke off. <img src="graemlins/gr_cry.gif" border="0" alt="[whiner]" /> So, I figure I'll just replace the spark plug. I take my spark plug socket and put it on.. but it won't go on. Ceramic is stuck in the hole. I took a screwdriver and can't get it to budge, any ideas? Also, is there any way possible to put the drivers side right in without draining the oil? Grot headers BTW. Well, I'm defenitly learning alot from the install.

Oh, no flames please, I know I'm an absolute idiot that should never get ahead of himself again. For some reason I don't think it will happen again. TIA

Jason

Re: I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

[quote]Originally posted by 98SS#2018:
<strong>Ceramic is stuck in the hole. I took a screwdriver and can't get it to budge, any ideas? </strong><hr></blockquote>

Ceramic is stuck in what hole? The round area cutout in the manifold?

Re: I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

Well, ceramic is actually stuck in the sparkplug hole. The spark plug is still in there too. I just can't get the socket in there. Never work on a car when you're both very very tired, and very very excited. Those two things do not go together very well. I tried a vice grip on the plug, but that just turns the hmm.. don't know whats that called. The metal thing coming out of it. I'll try to get a wrench around it and see if I can loosen it... Maybe it's time for some heads.... hmmmm..TIA

Jason <img src="graemlins/gr_zzz.gif" border="0" alt="[boring]" />

Re: I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

I was reading that wondering the same thing....
I didn't say anything as I figured I was miss reading......

i dunno if i'm of base but with the manifold out try using a wrench or a crescent wrench if the sparkplug is that messed up

The way i see it is, It don't matter it's already junk so just do whatever(almost) to get it out <img src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="images/icons/wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="images/icons/smile.gif" border="0">

Re: I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

Basically to try and clear things up, if I had a 5 sided socket I'd be in business. One side, maybe even two are filled with ceramic. I'm going to try a wrench and try to jam it in there and turn it some how... it should be interesting to say the least. Any other ideas as to how to get it out? Thanks.

Jason <img src="graemlins/gr_zzz.gif" border="0" alt="[boring]" />

Re: I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

Shopvac??? Don't really know what else if it is stuck deep down in the hole. Good luck.

Re: I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

Just a thought, maybe you could use a some compressed air to blow out any ceramic debris around the spark plug.

Some of the blow guns you can buy at Home Depot etc. can only be used at 20-40 psi or so. But if you get a "safety" blow gun - you can crank the regulator on your compressor full blast (125-150psi, whatever your compressor will do!)

I have one of these blow guns with my compressor, and believe me, when I crank my regulator up to max (135 psi) the thing will blow the sh*t out of anything in front of it. <img src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" /> <img src="images/icons/shocked.gif" border="0">

Re: I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

[quote]Originally posted by 98SS#2018:
<strong>
Oh, no flames please, I know I'm an absolute idiot that should never get ahead of himself again. For some reason I don't think it will happen again. TIA

Jason</strong><hr></blockquote>


I also meant to add, don't feel bad, nobody should flame you. This board is great and LS1.com is also a good board. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people here more than willing to help out with some advice.

Good luck.

Re: I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

maybe you could get some putty, and try and shoving some around there to get the ceramic to stick to something, than pull the putty out. I dunno i couldnt think of anything better, sorry <img src="images/icons/frown.gif" border="0">

those little vaccums at the dentist office would have been perfect...

Re: I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

I would hammer the socket down as far as I could until it shattered all the crap and then blow it out before removing the plug to keep the stuff from falling in once the plug was removed. I have several dental pic`s I keep in my tool box for picking at stuff,their made of stainless steel so their pretty stout and take alot of abuse.
Hammer down on da wench till she crumbles.

Best Of Luck !

SS/LS

Re: I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

SS/LS

Thats exactly what I would do! One decent tap will more than likely do it! Good luck <img src="images/icons/smile.gif" border="0">

Re: I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

I was tthinking to blow it out or use some tweezers.

Re: I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

That sucks...

You asked about draining the oil?

IMHO, just pull the filter & plug and do it. 15 minutes of oil draining (aka laying on the ground in peace <img src="graemlins/gr_chug.gif" border="0" alt="[chug]" /> ) and that header will POP up in there.

Either that, or spend 2 hours messing with it to realize that you just need to drain the oil.

I'm 100% serious when I say that I didn't spend more than 5-7 minutes getting both my Grots up in there (and this was the first time I'd ever done them). No floor pan banging, no engine lifting, just getting the car high and pulling the filter & plug. 'course, it does make a mess of the driver's side header. <img src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Good luck,

Andrew

Re: I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

The ceramic is brittle so, I like the socket over the plug idea and tap gently till the ceramic is broken up a little. Then vac out debris while the plug is still in there. Hey, shit happens just work through it with a level head.

Re: I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

Well, Thanks alot for all the ideas. I haven't tried them as I decided it would be best to go and get some sleep. Then I might be able to do something. It'll be tough trying to bang on the socket but I'll defenitly try it. I haven't tried it yet, but the passenger side slides right up?? I hope so after all of this. I think putting it all back together is going to be simple, it just involves getting that plug out and changing the oil. Thanks again everyone.

Jason

Re: I'm a bleeping idiot...
 

Hold the passenger's side parallel to the ground, the bottom of the car's got to be at least that high, the higher, the better. Basically (if my memory is correct <img src="images/icons/grin.gif" border="0"> ) Tip it up and just lift it in. It really surprised me how easily these headers went in. I did have the car high, though - headlight was at about mid-chest level.

I put SLP single-cat headers on my '94Z, and had to jack up the motor to do it. Those were no fun.

-Andrew