I have owned my 1992 Camaro RS since April and it is due for a tune up. I am done except for the spark plugs. I can't seem to find a relitivly easy way to do it. If you have any suggestions I would appretiate it.

 

No easy way, but some are harder than others.

A real short extension, like 1 or 2", helps alot. The back 2 on the right might be less difficult from below. Just take your time, don't get mad if they don't jump out for you, and you'll eventually get it done.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."

 

EASY!?!?!?! Go from underneath the car. except for plugs 1 and 3 (first two on drivers side) which can be reached from up top easily. a Swivel extension for your ratchet is useful...especially on the (edit word out) 5 and 7...those little bastards took me longer then all the other ones combined. Oh ya, and make sure noone who is easily offended is standing nearby considering you will be swearing up a storm when you get to sparkplug 5. At least i know i was.

[This message has been edited by ede (edited January 17, 2001).]

 

It is an adventure. MAKE SURE you get the car as high off the ground as you can because you are going to be working under it and you need to have room to flex and contort your arms. I hope you have small hands. I dont, but I managed. Just go slowly, methodically, and try not to get too pissed off. Once you do it once, and know how to do it, it is very satisfying. Also, you may need to use one of those ratches with the swiveling head. Sometimes its easier at night so you can shine a light around in there and get better contrast so you can actually see the plugs. You will have to feel for the front two on the passenger side.

 

take off the smog tubes and you can get to them easily! ha ha!

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1989 firebird formula

Mods: converted from T.B.I. to a carburator 305 to a 350. Flowmater exhaust,hedman shortie hedders,202 heads,350 horse cam,bored.40 over, Edlebrock torker2 intake.

Future mods performer rpm air gap intake (polished) and 600 edlebrock carb, comp roller cam, and way better headsa 400 defintely in the works!

 

I used a standard ratchet, a 2" extention and (of course) the 3/8th" socket, and finally a pair of Rhino ramps. The front two on the drivers side are easy enough to get from the top, and everything else is pretty easy to get to from the bottom. Took me about an hour to change them all, and this is with half of them being seized into the engine, and also being my first time changing sparkplugs.

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89 iroc-z 305 tbi
everything stock, except for a mirror that fell off

 

Changed mine about 800 miles ago. Got about 4 of them from under the car. The other 4 from up top. Really wasn't that hard except for one of the middle ones on the driver's side. It was behind some sensor. It helps to be 6'3" and have long arms though.

 

josh91rs i'm sure you didn't mean to swear in your reply. in the future please be careful of what you say because it may offend some of the others that visit this board. before you go thinking it offends me, i'm sure i could teach you a few new words , it's just that this is suspose to be a "family" site. thanks for understanding.

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ICON Motorsports

1st & 3rd

 

easiest way, put on headers I can change my plugs in 5 minutes..

 

Yeah! You *****, lame-ash cursin' beotches can go to some sleaze-hole site to do that kind o' she-ot! (Hi, Ed!)

Incidentally, I change all of mine (V-8, TPI, air conditioning, PS, PB, all emissions equipment) from the top, but I DO bear a strong resemblance to an orangutan. Ooo! Ooo! WAAAAMP!

You can get the #6 and #8 if you use a true spark plug socket (with the flats on the top end) and use a wrench to turn it out instead of a ratchet. #2 is no picnic, either, but is possible from the top.

If the engine mounts are worn or distorted (how could THAT happen?) the space may be diminished even more, making it really tough from either the top or bottom.

In any case, if you apply a little anti-seize to the new plug threads when installing them, they should twist out more easily next time. This is almost essential on aluminum heads to prevent fusing of the steel and aluminum, bt helps a lot on cast iron, too.

Of course, to answer the topic question a little more directly, the easiest way to change the plugs is to pay someone else to do it. The easiest way isn't always the best, however.

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Later,
Vader
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"I cannot take this any more... Saying everything I've said before..."
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0
KaleCo Auto Parts

 

Well, if you lived around here, I'd just tell you to "bring it on out to the shop and we'll take care of ya'!" I love it when these things come in, because I do them pretty fast, and they pay pretty well. Our labor rates are pretty low, too, so we save people money over the dealer, and "chain shops".

I just get out my 1 1/2 inch and 3 inch extensions, 5/8 inch plug socket, and my swivel headed rachet and go to town. Just be patient!

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Working on:
'84 Z28 LG4 305 with 200,000 original miles!
Added dual elec fans.
145 MPH IROC Speedo
Building 430 HP 350
using primarily GMPP parts.
Block is in shop!

ASE Certified Master Tech

Starting to look like the Kicker poster child!

 

Just adding my two cents to the spark plug dilemna. The only plugs I get to from underneath is the rear one on each side. Like Vader said, it helps to have long arms! hehe. On the passenger side, I can reach 2,4,and 6 going from the front of the engine and squeezing my arm between the a/c compressor and the smog pump. The only tools I've ever needed is a 3/8 ratchet, 2" extension, and a 5/8 spark plug socket. Some plugs need the extension, others are easier with just the ratchet and socket.

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89RS w/350 TPI; 69RS/SS w/450 HP 350/Muncie 4-Speed "Too weird to live, too rare to die."

 

I got them all from the top, with a swivel head socket, 3" extension, 5/8" socket. I got them all out with just these tools, and got all but #8 snugged up. To snug up #8 I had to use a U-adapter to get about another inch. Do yourself a huge favor and drop the $2 on a cheapie pair of "work" gloves from a gas station. That way you won't look like you've been mauled by a rottweiler when you're done.

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89 Iroc-Z LB9 TPI auto 2.73 posi:
3" Dynomax muffler, K&N filters, TB bypass, 3" pipe in place of cat, cleaned and flow-matched injectors, accel 300+ wires, cap&rotor, synthetic oil, flexlite transmission cooler, afpr, !air pump&diverter valve, kicker sound system, soon to attempt engine swap...

 

Easiest way? Offer a 12-pack of beer to someone gullable enough to tackle that feat! LOL! Easiest is to get to 4 or 5 of them from the bottom. Right there in plain sight where you can get to others from the top.

 

I saw a tip in, Car Craft I think it was, where they took a spark plug socket, cut it so it was half as long, and drilled out the top hole big enough so the porcelin part of the plug would fit through it. Then they used a wrench.

When I got rid of my flowmaster headers for my SLP's, I noticed how different the angles on the pipes were. This modified spark plug socket worked for me, big time.

 

another easy way is to just sell your car when they need changed and buy one with new plugs...

I've never realy found it to hard to change them.. I only have to get 2 from the bottom.. I guess I just have small hands or something

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My `91 Z28 Convertible

 

allen has the right idea for easiset way, getting someone else to do it.

vader i think they'd love to have you and your language over at www.3rdgen.org

like i said before it doesn't bother me at all, just trying to keep it at a level we can all live with

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ICON Motorsports

1st & 3rd

 

I'm going to be changing my plugs soon, too, so I appreciate all of the advice. BUT...I've got one question: how on earth can you get two ramps underneath a 1992 Camaro? I always have to turn my wheels all the way to the left or the right and run up on one ramp only. The ground effects hit the ramps when I try to just run up on two like normal. SURELY, someone else has had to deal with this. Any advice?

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1992 Camaro RS
305 TBI, 5-Speed
K&N open element, Hooker exhaust
http://www13.brinkster.com/scbaeb/camaro.html
scbaeb@hotmail.com

 

bulldog try putting a 2x4 about 12" long in front of the ramps and driving on it first. if that doesn't work try to add a shorter piece of 2x4 to the first one so it's like going up steps.

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ICON Motorsports

1st & 3rd

 

wow V8s r a PITA. im glad i have 2 less plugs to do, which are all accessible from the top

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Stock 2.8 MPFI auto w/ Flowmaster 40, More to come......
New Pioneer Head Unit
2x 10" Thruster Subs powered by 300 Watt Jensen amp
More to come..... (hey, i dont got a job yet)

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by I ROCK
[B]I got them all from the top, with a swivel head socket, 3" extension, 5/8" socket. I got them all out with just these tools, and got all but #8 snugged up. To snug up #8 I had to use a U-adapter to get about another inch. Do yourself a huge favor and drop the $2 on a cheapie pair of "work" gloves from a gas station. That way you won't look like you've been mauled by a rottweiler when you're done.


Exactly what happened to me 4 years ago when I changed the plugs in the '91 RS I bought and prior to knowing this web site existed.
My hands looked like I spent Saturday night in a bar in west Lauderdale County TN.