Plug change help
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Plug change help Well I finally attempted this for the first time and needless to say I gave up, seems pathetic to have to ask for help to change plugs lol.
Anyways, I removed the air tube and got all the bolts removed from the coil bracket to move that (attempted passenger side first since drivers looks like a cake walk) and its loose but it will not move? It moves a little bit up and down but not like people said where I can move it to the top of the intake. So first question what am I missing here?
Next question, I got 1 wire and plug out, tried to get the next one in line and couldn't get the damn plug wire off, so what is the trick to getting these stock plug wires off in this tight space? If I can't even get the 2nd one from the front off I will never get #8 off lol, so I need advice here.
Thanks guys!
Anyways, I removed the air tube and got all the bolts removed from the coil bracket to move that (attempted passenger side first since drivers looks like a cake walk) and its loose but it will not move? It moves a little bit up and down but not like people said where I can move it to the top of the intake. So first question what am I missing here?
Next question, I got 1 wire and plug out, tried to get the next one in line and couldn't get the damn plug wire off, so what is the trick to getting these stock plug wires off in this tight space? If I can't even get the 2nd one from the front off I will never get #8 off lol, so I need advice here.
Thanks guys!
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 555
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From: NearHouston, TX
Pull that wire like a *****, it is just hanging on it's crimp since the last guy didn't rub a little grease on it for ya. Do you have headers? I have Pacesetter long tubes and that rear passenger plug was a beitch! Did it tho! I did not take coil bracket off, did it old school. I have the scratches to prove it. I've heard it can be done easier from below, if you have a local shop or friend with a lift - may be worth paying a few bucks - it isn't like you do it all the time. I have an assortment of swivel ratchet pieces that I was able to piece together to get it out.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Wanted to avoid taking it to a shop and having it some because I like having the satisfaction of doing things on my own, seems pathetic I've done h/c/I swaps on sbf cars and can't even do plugs on this lmao, but I mean I yanked hard on the plug wire and it wouldn't budge, and that one is fairly easy to get to... How am I supposed to be able to yank #8 off with like zero room.... If this damn ac line wasn't in the way lol.
# 8 from under, look at the angle of the plus to get a stright shot at removing the wires, put never seaze ( ? ) on the new plugs and dilectice grease or some type of slickum in side the wires before re installing, and yep pulling the wires can be a problem, I could not pull some of them my self had to call one of my sons to pull them.
I run long tubes and did not need to pull the coil packs.
Good luck, Johnny
I run long tubes and did not need to pull the coil packs.
Good luck, Johnny
Last edited by SS SLP2; Mar 13, 2013 at 02:37 AM.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,631
Likes: 2,555
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I don't know why anyone ever goes for #8 from underneath, I just don't see how that would be easier. The easiest thing is to remove the coil rail, put your knee on the battery, rest your left hand on the intake, and use your right hand to remove the wire (and then plug) for #8. Once the coil rail is out of the way, this is pretty easy. And the coil rail is only hard to remove the first time. There is a back bolt that's a pain to get to unless you have the right tool (wrench with a ratcheting end), but once you get that bolt out you don't ever have to put it back in....then future removal of the coil rail becomes very quick and easy. My guess is that you might have missed this bolt and that's why the rail won't come off. Did you remove 4 or 5 bolts from the coil rail so far?
As for wire removal, they definitely get hard to remove after being in place for 10s of thousands of miles. I pull them off the coils first because that's a bit easier, and then wrap the wire around my finger and pull as hard as possibile. Last time I changed plugs I had to do this with all 8 wires, and only one of them came apart....which was fine because I intended to replace the wires anyway. Some dielectric grease on the new wire boots will help with future removals.
As for wire removal, they definitely get hard to remove after being in place for 10s of thousands of miles. I pull them off the coils first because that's a bit easier, and then wrap the wire around my finger and pull as hard as possibile. Last time I changed plugs I had to do this with all 8 wires, and only one of them came apart....which was fine because I intended to replace the wires anyway. Some dielectric grease on the new wire boots will help with future removals.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Well woke up this morning, and tore everything back apart, got the 8th plug/wire from underneath (MUCH easier this way) and got the plugs changed in under 2 hours. Not bad now that ive done it once lol. Thanks for the help guys!
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Add me to the alternate list that prefers to do #8 from the top. Very easy to reach once the coil rail is off, and once you pull it off the first time and ditch that back bolt, you can get the whole rail off in a couple minutes....no need to crawl on the ground. Maybe it's easier for those of you with a lift.
I do #8 from the top, and I have big arms. Just lay across the engine/lid and reach down. I did it when I had individual coils on my 98 motor by just removing the #8 coil and taking my time. the best tool for this IMO is one of those finger sockets, worked like a charm. now with headers it should be easier.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,631
Likes: 2,555
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I do #8 from the top, and I have big arms. Just lay across the engine/lid and reach down. I did it when I had individual coils on my 98 motor by just removing the #8 coil and taking my time. the best tool for this IMO is one of those finger sockets, worked like a charm. now with headers it should be easier.
I use to get #8 from underneath but wasn't pulling the coils off. Now with headers it is pretty easy. It is worth pulling the wires off every once in a while just so they don't get baked on.