I've never felt like such an idiot before, but, I recently began working on a 1982 Z28 with a 350 in it. Hasn't been cranked in years, so I started doing simple stuff, IE cleaning the plugs, putting oil into the cylinders, etc. However, when I went to go take the last two plugs closest to the firewall on the passenger side.. they were barely even hand tight, and I couldn't figure out why. I cleaned them up, went to go put them back in.. can't fit a socket into the tiny gap I have there. Is there any way to get around it other than either A: Taking off the header, or B: Getting header plugs??

 

i just use a stubby open end wrench. i screw it in by hand as far as i can then tighten with the wrench.

 

I just use the header plugs, I don't drive the car enough to really need to change em often, so it was worth the little bit of extra money for me. As it is even with header plugs, I have to get under the car to reach the back 2 passenger side plugs. Not sure what headers I have but they are a PITA to get to the plugs.

 

I've done the back two from under the vehicle. A cut down spark plug socket is also helpful.

RBob.

 

I got this from harborfrieght makes plugs easy.

 

What I made

 

I have a regular/short 5/8", half inch drive socket that I ground 4 flat spots on. The socket slips over the plug, the end sticks out the back, and an open end/crescent wrench can grab onto the flat spots. ...only need this for ONE plug with my RHS heads and SLP headers. ...if I remember correctly, with stock heads, I used it on a few.

TTOP350....THAT IS AWESOME!!!!!

 

Thanx
That is what I use on the SLP headers with stock and angle plug aluminum heads. I built this in the early 90s.
I bought 2 cheap boxend wrenchesm cut off one of the boxed ends and welded it to the other being careful to keep them lined up. Then I ground down the lower boxed end so it'll fit down in the heads.

 

I use a modified offset wrench as well.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...ml#post5866310

 

Nice!!!

 

Everybody has some sort of modified tool to work around aftermarket headers. With the SBC, you're lucky. Although it looks tight, you still have lots of room.

My BBC has 2-1/4" primary tools. I use a combination of tools to check the spark plugs. Most of them I can get a spark plug socket onto then use a wrench on the end of the socket. There's no room for an extension and/or ratchet. Even then, there's not a lot of room to spin the plugs in and out with the socket. Socket is only used to loosen and tighten the plugs. I use a rubber hose type tool that slips over the end of the spark plug and allows me to spin the plug.

The hardest plug is #4. Second one back on the passenger side. My header tubes are all separate and all slide into a collector. The headers go on like a jigsaw puzzle. To get #4 plug out, I need to take out the bolts for the #2 header tube so it flops around and loosen off the #4 header tube. That gives me enough room to access the spark plug.

 

Wound up doing the same thing most of you guys did and bending a 5/8's wrench to make it work. On to the next problem!

 

Yep making a homemade tool is about the best route to go.
I have a few made up for headers. I have a spark plug socket I cut a U out of, sort of like an O2 sensor socket. Then use a wrench on the end of the hex part of socket.
I have a cut and a bent 5/8" open end and box end wrench.
The pass through socket set like "Midias" posted