As everyone knows the engine compartment is crowded on the early 3's, Whats the easiest approach to swapping plugs??

There MUST be a better way!
cheers
ROAR









*** ever

 

get a 12 pack, turn on the radio, be patient

 

AAAh so! drink the 12 pack, lay down and remove them from the bottom?

 

AH SO! Drink the 12 pack, lay/fall down and remove them from beneath??

 

I see you have 3:73's like I'm supposed to, I see 15.5 Miles /thousand RPM in 4th.
Around 20MPT in 5th, what does yours say??

 

my tach is way off because it a 91/92 cluster, but its 1800 rpm-2000 at 70mph in 6th gear per my gauge so that sounds about right. not sure if your 5th and my 6th are the ame though, my 6th is 0.5 ratio

 

I suppose it depends on your level of mechanical expertise and patience. Before I bought my car, I had heard all of the heartache and skinned knuckles about changing plugs. I have to say it wasn't as bad as what I read. Wear mechanics gloves, have a good selection of extensions and a universal joint for your 3/8" drive ratchet, and go for it. I am a turbine mechanic by trade so this wasn't a daunting task for me. Let your concience and experience be your guide. There's nothing worse than breaking a plug and then being unable to move the car.

 

A few from the top and a few from the bottom. Beer and radio help a lot.

 

i agree it took me hours to do mine i was in the dirt so if you have cement and a car roller it would be better

 

I had to pull my manifolds to replace the gaskets and studs anyway,way to easy that way.

 

Some you will need to use a socket/wrench technique.
Slide the socket over the plug than use the wrench on the end of the socket from the side breaking it loose,some you will want to slide the old plug boot over the plug about half way and un -thread it.Its the same in reverse when putting in the new ones.Be sure you don't push the plugs all the way into the boot because its much harder to get it off after the installation of the plug.IMO using the old plug boot to thread in and out the plugs just makes it easier to grasp and turn. You will see what I mean once you get started.
They do make a special plug socket that will make things easier.I have not had to use one but may decide to get one for my tool collection then put it to use next time.

 

Rotate counterclockwise until disengaged.

Installation is the reverse of removal.

I find it easiest to do # 6 & 8 from below, and all the others from above. Kinda depends on your available tools, length of arms, patience, familiartiy with where they are by feel, etc.

Pretty easy all things considered; not something to get particularly worked up over, for sure.

 

Most important,if you drove the car to get the plugs,let the sumbitch cool way down before attempting.

 

I did all mine from the top. I had four different types of ratchets and two different extensions. I used a regular deep socket and not the spark plug one, a lot of bad words and came away with really sore back of hands. I also used a small piece of rubber fuel line to spin one of them (probably would have worked on others).

 

I JUST replaced my plugs in my new 1984 Z28. In addition to the 5/8 socket wrench, I used a normal deep socket. It's a bit shorter than the socket wrench and works better for #8 particularly. I'm 6'3" and 250LBS. I did all of them from the top. I admit that #8 and #7 were difficult, but if I can get my hand in there, you can too. I did have trouble with finding wires though. Make sure that the wires you buy have a long enough #8 wire. Had to go to two different stores to find the right set. Another solution would be to get the Accel set and just MAKE your wires, but that's a pain in the butt. I suggest that you change your cap, rotor, Wires, and COIL as well. When I took mine apart, I wondered how the heck it actually was able to run. Looked like it had NEVER had a new cap. That would probably explain why it didn't like to start when it was hot. Just take your time, and like was said, get a six pack. If you get frustrated, stop for a while and come back to it.

 

Thanks all!I got the econo 30 pack and attacked it from the top, like said, verry time consuming! re-routed the wires and checked the gaps the plugs seemed to have been there forever, rusty and covered with old grease and dirt on this 89,000 mile car,
right tan color and gaps good, gotta rebuild the carb (arg!) Vizard has a good how to make them better in the vol 2 of his go fast book. Have strange electric problems, intermittant amp, fuel, coolent guages, not bad for a 30 year old car!