I just bought an '87 Trans Am. I use to have a '92 Z and while no walk in the park I could get #8 out. This T/A has an A.I.R. (I believe thats what its called) system which adds to the difficulty level tremendously. I havent been able to get it from the top and it does'nt look possible from the bottom because the exhaust for the pass. side is right there. How is this possible?

 

well you could read the thread called 2 Loose spark plugs??? and you could break the porcelain off that will make it easier but then you have no choice but to get it out

 

Jack and SUPPORT the front of the car, then get it (and #6) from underneath. That's how I do it, anyway> Bill

 

Find a spark plug socket that will fit over it then use an open end wrench to turn the socket by its end.

 

I already got #6 from the top, and like I said, the exhaust is in the way to get it from the bottom. I can tell it HAS to be done from the top(unless I drop the exhaust and I REALLY dont want to do that). I cant even get my hand down there to pull the spark plug wire off, its right up against the heater box. This has to be a joke from GM.

 

Have you tried an offset box wrench? My dad had an old mac one, worked wonders on that plug.

 

naf: I can tell in principal what you're saying is the way it has to be done, in reality though I just cant see how to physically do it.
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No I havent. Seems like it would have to be REALLY offset to get to the hex part of the plug but I will try it tomorrow(I dont have a garage and Im fed up for the night)

 

just to make you more mad, i was able to remove all 8 plugs from my 86 with the origional LG4 with AIR from the top. It helps to be a bit slender.
It is a PITA though. You can get it from the bottom too, just most of the time you cant see it, you need to just feel around.

 

i think it was a 1 inch offset or maybe a lil more. 1 inch should do it though.

go to sears and pick one up, if it dont work return it.

Just measured the wrench, its 7/8" long of an offset.

 

find a ten year old

 

i thought the plugs was easy took me about 45mins thats included jacking the car and getting the tools i need..did all from the bottem

 

O.k. I thought I made this clear, its not possible on this car to get to it from the bottom. The exhaust is in the way. So far the 10 year old might be the best idea.

 

i second the offest wrench.

 

The last two plugs on the passenger side are special. You do have to get to them from underneath. Don't worry there is always more.. such as when you get headers that last bolt on the passenger side is going to test your patience.


Rabi C.

 

Are you saying that you can't see it, or can't get your hand in there? Mine are Camaros but the under hood stuff is probably pretty much the same. It's tight getting back in there. I've gotta push my arm down in there till it's pretty well pinned between the AIR tubes and the fenderwell (almost painful).

Two things I can say about working on these cars.

When it comes to getting onto nuts/bolts/spark plugs/etc. - If you can see it you can't get your hand on it, when you get twisted around so you can get your hand on it then you probably can't see it anymore. You learn to work by feel.

The second thing is quite often I find myself in a position with my arm stuck/wedged back in there to reach something in such a way that if my feet slipped out from under me I'd break my are, probably real bad.

Never had to get to one from the bottom. One 305 TPI IROC, one HO 305 Z28, one 305 TBI RS - I do every thing but rebuild the 700r4's.

Oh, think these are bad to get to spark plugs on? My S10 Blazers (Vortec V6's) require you to take the steering shaft off the steering gear box and wire it up out of the way in order to change out the #3 plug. I do really dislike working on them.

Back to the #8 on the SBC - 3/8" drive ratchet and spark plug socket and force your arm back in there.

 

Oh I can see it clear as day, atleast the sparkplug boot. I just cant get my hand down there to pull it. Then once I pull it Im suppose to get to the plug which now I wont be able to see because of all the crap in the way?

 

Sorry (not trying to be a smart ***) but I'll have marks on my arm, pinched marks, from forcing my hand far enough in there to reach the plug. Once I get the plug out I grab the new one and push my arm right back to those same marks, from being pinched between the fenderwell and the AIR tubing, and I can slip/slide the plug back into the hole. I've been doing it by feel ever since I put headers on my old Laguna 20 years ago.

Sorry I've got no better answers than that.

 

one of the first things i did when i rebuilt my engine was to remove the air and put headers on it. no wedging my hand into unseen places for me anymore. i use a machined socket and a gear wrench to change them all from the top without laying on the engine or worrying about breaking my arm. when mine was stock, i would actually lay on the plenum with my head towards the windshield and change #6 and #8 by feel.

 

Yup, while trying to diagnose a blown head gasket, I must of pulled the plugs 20 ^&*%ing times. Even has block hugger/shorty headers. You think getting plug out is hard? Try threading in a compression tester lead, or a leak down tester. With header on. Sucked but can be done. Have to be done from underneath car. I used a socket with wrench. Putting on socket first, then slipping on box end of wrench. Worked pretty good. Still not easy...

As for the last header blot, passenger side? NEVER AGAIN!! I will sell first...lmao

 

Try a 1 or 1.5 inch extension on that last header bolt.

 

Seriously, go from the bottom, "the exhaust is in the way" doesnt mean it wont come out, instead of feeling from the top feel from the bottom. worse comes to worse unbolt your exhaust and be done with it

 

Or pull your motor. This is far too much discussion for one lonely spark plug.

 

I was over at my next doo neighbor's garage a little bit ago. He's always building cars. Lots of years of experience building street rods, building race cars, etc. He showed me a special spark plug wrench he made. The took a spark plug socket and cut it off at about 1.5" long and then heli arced a short piece of a wrench on it as a handle. Sure the spark plug sticks out through it but the point is its short enough to get over the tip and down onto the hex of the spark plug so he can loosen or tighten the plug. I'm gonna get the stuff (cheapo wrench as the handle part and a new spark plug socket) and have him make me one, too.

 

That plug is cake compared to #8 on my '97 LT1, if it makes you feel any better

Jack up the car, and take it out with a box-end 5/8" wrench from underneath the car. You can break it loose with the wrench, and turn it out with your fingers - you should be able to reach it from the bottom. Thats how I did it on my LT1, which is much worse than any 3rdgen cars were (I have an '83 Z28 too, and its a walk in the park compared). Unless you have nevr skinny arms and a couple elbows like me, theres no way you'll get it from the top, unless you start making/modifying tools for stuff like this.

 

Wow, I dont know how to make it any more clear. Its not coming out from the bottom. You cant see it, feel it, touch it, anything, from the bottom. Anyway, I had sugery on my left wrist yesterday so its getting a break for a couple of days, or more, considering Im left handed.

 

Well just a thought but slp makes a socket for removing plugs on f-bodies.
Its in the summit book. I had a hard time too and swore id never do it again but you have to look at it this way- somebody put it in ther so somebody can get it out. Good luck and have lots of patience you can do it.

 

Have you tried a wobble joint on the socket yet thats what I always use and it does have t be done from underneath.

 

Its been a while since I had to work a stock 87. If I remember right I actually crawled on top of the motor facing the windshield my right knee was on the tpi intake and the other was on the passenger strut tower. I was then able to get my wrist in the correct angle to reach the #8. I used a real spark plug socket (as apposed to a regular 5/8 socket) and a wrench.

 

Thanks to everyone's insight on this matter. I look forward to the challenge!

 

take off all that air injection bull ****.

 

How about you quit bringing threads up from 2 years ago and posting on them.

 

You need to thank god your doing this on a third gen and not a 93 Lt1 corvette. Dam two years ago.