I have a 2006 Impala SS with 45K miles and I plan on changing plugs soon. I would like to know if there any tricks or difficulties when changing the plugs on an LS4. The cylinder bank near the firewall looks extremely tight. A few quick questions:

1. Is it easier to change the backside spark plugs from the under the car or the top?

2. Any recommendations for spark plugs (CAI upgrade only)

Thanks!

 

I found it not to be a terrible job if you remove the coil packs and valve cover off the rear bank first. The #8 plug is still a little tight, but just takes some time (like as long as all the other's put together).

Stay away from gimmick plugs with 'enriched uranium quadracycle electrode flux-capacitors', all they enrich is the seller's wallet.

Any of the major brands will be fine, just verify the heat range matches oem.

 

my astro van was a bitch to do, I think the LS4's are somewhat okay.

 

No my lumina z34 was a bitch. It required removing the upper intake plennum. I was able to rock the motor forward using my dogbone GM special tool but still had to bend the cowl near the firewall. It was a 90 degree motor vs a 60 degree motor which pushed that rear bank ever further towards the firewall. I'll take an LS4 anyday!! Haha

 

Yea I like the Flux Capacitor

 

[QUOTE=williamGT;11958916]my astro van was a bitch to do, I think the LS4's are somewhat okay.[/QUOTE/]

gotta love "dog houses" lol

 

[QUOTE=99huggerorangeZ;11961823]lol, I love my 89 Astro van (winter beater) it was awhile to do, and bloody hands.

 

I think you got that the wrong way round. the 3.4 in the Z34 was a 60 degree V6 with multi valve heads. The multivalve heads were the reason why rear sparkplugs changes were hard. Your V8 is 90 Degree.

 

My bad.....dont know what I was thinking. Had the 3800 on the brain, thats the 90 degree v6 I was thinking about. Haha

 

Anyone try the rear bank from underneath?

 

Just need the right extensions/universals. I was looking back there today at the #8 spark plug wire checking for wear and it's not like the exhaust manifold is touching the firewall or anything... I suppose you could remove the dogbone and move it a little bit.

 

All I did was pull the rear coil bracket. You can’t see what your doing but its easy enough. I used a 3/8 drive ratchet and elbow if memory servers me right. Didn’t take long at all, nothing like the 3.4.

 

I would recommend to pull a couple of plugs from the front and inspect them first before you change them all. GM now uses Iridium tipped spark plugs and they last for about 100,000 miles or longer. With 45,000 miles on your car, your plugs are probably still good to go.

I would also recommend that if you do go ahead and change them all to replace them with the same AC/Delco Iridium spark plugs or an equivalent from NGK.

 

x2 on the NGK's

 

"'enriched uranium quadracycle electrode flux-capacitors'" - HAHAHAHA PUKE, I need me some of those with an adapter to run 2 plugs per cylinder. Oh baby, she's gunna fly now.

Bed Time!