and tools or tricks u guys use to get to those hard to reach plugs? or do i need to loosen the headers? thnks

 

No secrets really.... patience Grasshopper.... get some from above, some from below.... have every conceivable tool of the right size handy, in particular a box wrench with about a 1" Z-shapped offset at the end, a very short 5/8" combo wrench, and various 5/8" sockets

 

practice contortionism too! Those back ones were a b**** until I started twisting and turning to the point of breaking my arm!

 

yeah thats what I thought. I just dont want to break them especially the new ones going in lol $5.50 a plug

 

I took a spark plug socket and chopped off abt 1/2" from the open end. Drilled out the hole (where the ratchet normally attaches) so the top of the plug could stick through.

The outside of the socket has sholders. I use a wrench to turn the socket. This works on all the plugs, no problem.

BTW; I'm running Hooker 2055's.

 

ok that sounds like a plan thATS what i was doing but I didnt cut off the end. how did u do that? what tool? or did u bring it to a machine shop? thnks Kev.

 

i use the same method as zz28zz, except i cut the socket so that when you put it on the plug, the shoulder only extends to the end of the hex on the spark plug. i just used a cutoff wheel to cut the socket, and a drill bit slighty larger than a spark plug to enlarge the hole. works great

 

I've always been able to get it done with a combination of open-end wrenches, offset box wrenches and by using a 3/4" open end wrench to turn the hex nut at the end of the spark plug socket (instead of trying to attach the ratchet to the end of it).

My currrent 78 Malibu requires all of these techniques to get the plugs out past the various header tubes, for instance.

If the hex nut on the spark plug isn't recessed way down into the plug hole you're way ahead of the game- then you don't have to use a socket on every on to get it out.

 

EDIT--i can do all 8 on my non a/c camaro from above the car.. i have flowtech shorty headers, and my wires are routed as shown in the photo below.

the only tricky one is number 6. the way the #6 collector tube is routed prevents a straight shot to the actual spark plug itself.



look at the above photo. see the strut mount on the passenger side? look to the left of the mount(towards the firewall), and you'll see my #6 primary tube.

what i have to do is wait until the headers cool down enough, then pull the number 4 plug. then i have to use my spark plug socket with a 3/4" wrench to remove the number 6 plug.

 

I can get all mine out and new ones in in about 30-40 minutes with nothing but a "slim" spark plug socket and a 5/8" box-end...all from the top too.


Thats with Hedman shorties on 2.02 Fuelies in a '91 RS with no A/C or emissions, and the wires routed under the headers.

 

I use a cut off and bored out spark plug socket as well (cut with a cutoff wheel on a die grinder). Fits on all of em, but tends to fall off pretty easy if let go of it while it is on a plug. I'm really good at picking it up off the floor though.

 

cool thnks for all the replys and ideas

 

I just use a wrench, I have hedman long tubes and I can change the plugs in like 15 minutes. Those stock manifolds really sucked, took me three times longer

 

I welded a socket to a 7/8" wrench, which works great with SLP headers..

 

wish I could weld lol

 

I can weld