What is the best method to go about changing plugs (spark plugs) on a third gen? I can get to most of them on the drivers side pretty easy, but the passenger's with all the a/c crap is impossible. I don't really have a floor jack that can get up high enough (then again i have to physically lift the car while i push the jack under it with my foot in order to jack it up.) Ideas, cheap low clearance high lift jacks, ect? Thanks.

 

i just drive my car up on ramps and work from underneath. some are kinda a pain in the butt to get to, but i eventualy got them all.

 

about the jacking - drive your car up on some 2x4's first. then just slide the jack under!

 

since chevykilla had nothing intelligent to say and his childish talk added nothing to the content of this thread it was removed

 

Sounds good. Thanks for the help. Feel kinda stupid for haveing to ask so thanks for being polite about it.

 

Joker,

If you work at it a little, all the plugs can be removed and installed from the top. Of course, I'm 6'4" and have arms like an orangutan, so that helps to get to the rear plugs a little. OOO! OOO! OOO!

I've also had to use a spark plug socket and the open end wrench that fits the socket on a couple of them, but I still get them from the top.

The 2x4 trick works pretty well, and mine is even worso due to the low ground effects. I fabricated some plywood ramps from a hefty stack of 2x4s and 2x6s glued and bolted on edge, with a 3/4" plywood covering. The ramps are gradual and only about 6" high, but it is plenty to raise any of my low cars enough to get the jack positioned correctly. If I forgo the creeper and just crawl on the concrete, I can do an oil change and filter without the jack. Unfortunately, greasing the steering and suspension properly still required the jack and stands, but I can do the oil change every other time with the ramps only. It may be enough to get the plugs from the underside, too.

My new garage is getting an 11' ceiling, so you KNOW I'm thinking about a surface mounted twin-post hydraulic lift setup down the road. I'm not getting any younger, you know.... I won't be able to walk under all of them, but I'll be able to get the TA at least '6 off the ground with no problem. Christmas is coming, and I'm already dropping hints.

 

this may not be right but it worked when i got pissed........i was taking out the plugs and i got pissed with the headers in the way and **** so i broke off the ceramic part of the plug....made slipping the socket on much easier ......gettin the new plugs in wasnt much easier but gettin them off was a breeze

like i said not the best but oh well......

 

i pulled my plugs to check on the state of my new engine and its a pita... Cant use a socket because theyre a nice set of free boch platnums and i didnt want to demolish them. had to use a 5/8 open end wrench to get em out. If you have manifolds its much easier. Took me around 20 minutes witht he manifolds. Im like vader in taht im a big guy too so i had to really squeeze my hands into those tight spots to get them. 'unnggg, oooo unnnggguhahhhh.... got it.'

 

Driver side from the top and pass from the bottom. I am able to use a lift so I guess I am cheating!!! Socket, ratchet, open end wrench, and an swivel. Good luck.

 

Just be glad you don't have an LT1 4th gen It took me 12 hours to change the plugs and wires on my 93, even with some of the accesories removed. I'll work on the 3rd gen any day over that.


A trick I learned is to get the plug loose with a wrench on the socket, then take a piece of hose that fits snugly on the ceramic part of the plug, and turn it out with that.

 

All from the top , even with headers on there (no A/C, never had it) But if it had A/C there'd be no way I could do it, my hands are just too big to squeeze past all the A/C crap.

 

I can get to all of my from the top except for the number 8. With these headers on the best and fastest way to get that one off is with me under the car and my hand up by the head and then my wife stands by the car and slides the plug down to me. I am sure with a little more time I will get a better way but I have only had the headers on for a few months. I am just gald my wife doesn't mind getting her hands dirty. As a matter of fact when I blew a intake manifold gasket and worked on the fuel line bolt at the front of the engine for 40 minutes and couldn't do it she ran me off from the car and had it done in about 2 minutes. A good wife is hard to find.

 

I went to advanced auto and bought one of the wrenches that have the curved handle down next to the box. Went to the shop and cut it in half till it was about 4 inches long. Works great, and I have headers. Can get them all with this.

 

take out the AIR stuff. Its easy to put back (not the air tubes on the manifolds but the box connected to the smog pump and the rubber tubes that go to it)

 

all i did to change my plugs is put the car on blocks and then use 2 jackstands to lift it up. this is if you dont have access to a lift. Its MUCH easier to change them from underneath the car, becuase when i first changed the plugs i reached into the engine compartment and twisted my wrist really bad trying to screw them out. when i learned underneath is better it took me all of 10 minits to get out all 8