Just finished changing my plugs and ....
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 672
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From: Catonsville, MD
Just finished changing my plugs and .... I just wanted to say F*** the #7 plug 
. The #7 plug (3rd one back on the passenger side) took me just as long as the other 7 plugs combined. My left forearm looks like it's been thru a war by itself. But even with all the aggravation it was worth it to save the money a shop would have charged me to do it. Now that I have my TR-6 plugs in I need to get my car dynoed on the juice. Then I finally be able to get some track times on the juice as well. Oh well...I just wanted to vent my frustration after spending the last 2 and half hours changing the plugs. 
. The #7 plug (3rd one back on the passenger side) took me just as long as the other 7 plugs combined. My left forearm looks like it's been thru a war by itself. But even with all the aggravation it was worth it to save the money a shop would have charged me to do it. Now that I have my TR-6 plugs in I need to get my car dynoed on the juice. Then I finally be able to get some track times on the juice as well. Oh well...I just wanted to vent my frustration after spending the last 2 and half hours changing the plugs. Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 672
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From: Catonsville, MD
Re: Just finished changing my plugs and .... All the plugs seemed fairly simple with not alot of trouble except the #7 one. What's the best way to attack that SOB? I tried underneath and over top...just didn't seem very accessible.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 672
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From: Catonsville, MD
Re: Just finished changing my plugs and .... LOL....whoops. Well Damnit, let me requote then "F*** the #6 plug "!!!!
lol...sry for the mistake....twas my first time.
"!!!!lol...sry for the mistake....twas my first time.
Administrator
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 45,841
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From: Earth
Re: Just finished changing my plugs and .... Number 8 was a s.o.b. for me. I had to break it loose from the bottom, pull it from the top, install it from the top, and torque it down from the bottom. The rest were a breeze.
The rest were a breeze. 
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 302
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From: olathe, ks
Re: Just finished changing my plugs and .... Comnbinations of a 5/8" sparkplug wrench, 3/8" ratchet, and regular wrenches is what I used.
I removed/replaced them all from the top. #8 was the real challenge. I think I turned it 1/8 of a turn each time I was able to get a open end wrench on the sparkplug wrench.
Passenger side manifold bolts are a joy too.
I removed/replaced them all from the top. #8 was the real challenge. I think I turned it 1/8 of a turn each time I was able to get a open end wrench on the sparkplug wrench.
Passenger side manifold bolts are a joy too.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Earth
Re: Just finished changing my plugs and .... Passenger side manifold bolts are a joy too.
Re: Just finished changing my plugs and .... Passenger side manifold bolts are a joy too.
I know just what you're saying!I was told by the person I bought my car from that it needed new plugs. So figuring I'd get the hardest one out of the way first, I went through the blood donating process of changing #8, and the plug looked perfect!
Checked a few of the others and they were mint as well. Live and learn I guess.. 
TECH Junkie
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Chi-Town
Re: Just finished changing my plugs and .... Passenger side manifold bolts are a joy too.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 672
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From: Catonsville, MD
Re: Just finished changing my plugs and ....
Comnbinations of a 5/8" sparkplug wrench, 3/8" ratchet, and regular wrenches is what I used.
I removed/replaced them all from the top. #8 was the real challenge. I think I turned it 1/8 of a turn each time I was able to get a open end wrench on the sparkplug wrench.
Passenger side manifold bolts are a joy too.
I removed/replaced them all from the top. #8 was the real challenge. I think I turned it 1/8 of a turn each time I was able to get a open end wrench on the sparkplug wrench.
Passenger side manifold bolts are a joy too.
The #8 plug seemed pretty easy for me. Since my cats and headers weren't hot I just changed it from underneath the car. Just stuck my arm up right next to the cat and used a socket wrench. The #6 plug was blocked by the headers, so I couldn't get more than 2 fingers on itfrom the bottom. From the top I had to lose a few layers of skin to get my arm back along side the block, but ocne I finally got my arm stuck all the way back there I just cussed my way through it until I had the SOB out. The putting it back in was just as much fun.
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 108
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From: Katy, TX
Re: Just finished changing my plugs and .... I just bought a 99 T/A and was wondering about after how many miles do should u change the spark plugs? Also, I would like to also know what kind of spark plugs everyone uses.
Re: Just finished changing my plugs and .... i changed mine and it wasnt that bad. my buddy though on his 00 TA, took him like 4 hrs and 5 smoke breaks to do it. i dont know, i guess it just depends on how flexible you are and if you have the right tools. 
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 672
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From: Catonsville, MD
Re: Just finished changing my plugs and ....
I just bought a 99 T/A and was wondering about after how many miles do should u change the spark plugs? Also, I would like to also know what kind of spark plugs everyone uses.
Re: Just finished changing my plugs and .... yup, took me 2 1/2 hrs the first time. I used the battery as a knee rest for that #8 plug. I knew I should have taken the coil packs off so it would be easier but I didn't have the deep socket and I also wanted to make it harder on myself , j/k. my left arm looked like it went thru a meat grinder, still have a few scars. oh well, love getting scars like that. makes me feel......like I'm a true mechanic 
, j/k. my left arm looked like it went thru a meat grinder, still have a few scars. oh well, love getting scars like that. makes me feel......like I'm a true mechanic Administrator
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 45,841
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From: Earth
Re: Just finished changing my plugs and ....
I just bought a 99 T/A and was wondering about after how many miles do should u change the spark plugs? Also, I would like to also know what kind of spark plugs everyone uses.
For N/A applications, go with the TR55's. I pulled my stock plugs at 30,000 miles and the gap was blown out horribly.
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 8
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From: Plano
Re: Just finished changing my plugs and .... Most of us run NGK TR55's after mods. I used to run them. I'm now using TR6's (copper) for my nitrous kit. They run cooler and there is no platinum disc on them. Nitrous will eat that disk.
For N/A applications, go with the TR55's. I pulled my stock plugs at 30,000 miles and the gap was blown out horribly.
if u remove the coil packs and your AIR system the plugs should b a breeze
o that and get an air wrench
8 plugs out and 8 back in in just 6.5 minutes
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 109
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From: NOVA
Re: Just finished changing my plugs and .... you guys want tough. Try putting valve cover spacers on 98 heads.....Its nearly impossible to get the back valve cover bolt in and it is impossible to get the bolt into the coil packs (At least I think its nearly impossible to get that back bolt in, the guy that did it, may have just tossed that bolt in the woods beside my car 
)
)