Sorry to ask such a stupid question, but I have the right tools, but it seems to be nearly impossible to even reach the plug wires to pull them off. What can I remove to have easier access.

Yep, I am a mom, trying to help her 16 year old son get his step dads car back on the road after its been sitting idle for 5 years.

I got off 2 on the drivers side, but the passenger side seems even harder to reach.

any suggestions would be appreciated.

Yes, we have drained the fuel, changing the rad fluid, changing the oil, got some seafoam, and was attempting to spray a little lub in the spark plug holes to loosen any potential stuck valves or pistons, before we start it up for the first time. (And going to run a for just a bit before we change the fuel filter- provided it Will start)





87 IROC TPI with a 8 cyl

 

Ok I have gotten a good tip to try from the underneath, with a well ramped/jack stand car. I also found out that I can gently use a pliar or screw driver to help with the removing of the cap. Also the age/weathered nature of the connection may be causing it to be more difficult to remove, but they are a pain to remove in general.

thanks guys

 

You should be able to get 6 out from the top with some good finagling. The rear two on the passenger's side will need to be removed from underneath.If you dont like useing car jacks ramps are always the easier way to go. In the future if you dont want it you can remove the A/C and you will be able to get them all from above. -James

 

I got all of mine from the top, with shorty headers.
I use a 3/8 ratchet with 2 in 5 in and 12 in extensions, along with a u joint.
Normally. To get mine, I also use a 3/4 wrench and a 3/4 stubby (short) wrench.
If you look at the spark plug socket you will see that it has a hex shape on the end. You can put a 3/4 wrench or socket on that.
If you have factory exhaust manifolds they aren't to bad, just need the right combo of extensions and u-joint.
If you do have headers you may need to get under or use a wrench.
Like was already said, plyers work well to get the boots off.
I am going to assume you are going to put new plug wires on it too.
So it you hurt them trying to get them off who cares.
Also the plugs too, if you break the proclen trying to get the wires off or trying to get the plugs out, it dosen't matter. Old trash parts.

 

One more thought.
When you have trouble like this, regardless of what kind of car it is, or what you are trying to do to it.
Sometimes taking a minute to sit back, think about it helps alot.
Point being sometimes you have to get creative.
Just don't get stupid creative and hurt yourself.

 

I got all eight plugs out from the top. It wasn't easy, and I came out looking like a cutter, but I did it. The only things missing were my A/C Compressor (shot) and the A/C manifold hose that goes from the condenser to the accumulator.

Bend the crap out of the AIR tubes. I bent them as far in as they could go, and still had a hard time.

It should be noted that I could not put the #8 plug wire on from the top. I had to drive it onto a curb, then reach up and snap it on.

 

I got them out YEAH, the real pain of the job was to try get the wd-40 in the hole to lubricate the piston rings.

the problems were : getting the can in there :in a position that the can would actually spray: and the straw in the hole far enough.

Solution, a drinking straw with a bendy part, From under the car i fit the long part of the straw into the spark plug hole, then my son from over was able to put the wd-40 straw into the short side of the drinking straw and spray. So I guess better quality tubing would have worked too, like that stuff that you run water to the icemaker in the fridge, or actually some kind of car hose.

I know that somepeople might say that we shouldnt have used w-d40, but used seafoam, or some other product. But, still How would you get the other product IN the spark plug hole.

Thanks for the advice.

 

You mean to wash the lubrication off the piston rings.

 

OK, I have been caught, I read sometimes on what needs to be done, and do it, but I may not understand why.....

As you can tell, I read alot of posts about what you need to do when you revive a car that has been sitting for a while. I just followed the advise.

btw I did put sea foam in the new 3 gallons of gas and in the oil for good measure. The car is running but not great, seems to be missing, BUT it is running better than it was before it was put away 3-5 years ago. I have to make sure I got all the spark plug boots securely popped back on. and then maybe wait until it throws a code or something.

 

Spraying WD-40 into the chambers doesn't provide any benefit.

 

I would think any kind of lubrication is better than trying to start an engine that has been dry of oil in the cylinders for 5 years. Good thinking, Knix!

 

Run it thru the gas that is in it.
You may find that the injectors and fuel system kinda clean themselves.
The Sea Foam sure helped my Ford.

When you say it runs rough, is that at idle?\
Have you driven it yet?
If so how does it do at higher rpm's. (dosen't have to be 5,000 rpm 25 to 3000 would be good)
You might try taking out the IAC and cleaning it with electrical cleaner.
Probably wouldn't hurt to clean the throttle body either.

 

Ah, I missed the 5 years idle part. Even still, if the engine was shut down normally and stored there'll still be an adequate oil film on the cylinder walls.

 

If the engine was 'seized', WD-40 can sometimes be used to help break it free. I think that's a good thing to do in your case.
I'd also be breaking the engine over, before hitting it with the starter (if possible).
Good luck!

 

ok whats is seafoam and Knix maybe you put the wires on in the wrong order causing it to miss