ok... got everything for the tune up the other day, and started earlier today. i have one question. is there any easy way to get to the front passenger sparkplug. even with the ratchet extension i don't have room. it's as if the engine was designed with "uncomfortable" and "crowded" in mind. it's a '91, and i'm basically looking for any tricks or if i have to remove something to get to it. thanks

 

Yeah , I think that plug is a bastard for most of us ! When I first changed my plugs for the first time ever , I was able to get my plugs out without a problem , but , when I got to that plug , I had to stop and go to Advance and buy a tool to get that one out . I bought a t-handle thing with the sparkplug socket on the end , it swivils around in any direction you want it to . Then handle on it is red . It makes it much easier .Im sure , any of your local parts stores will have those tool . If you dont see it , ask em .

 

off to the store! lol, thanks

 

no problemo !

 

I used a 3/8 ratchet, 3" extension, then a swivle, got it out 3 times so far w/o cussing. No offense, I dont see how its "that hard". Now try changing the left rear plug on a v6 dakota, now thats a PITA!!!

 

Some spark plug sockets (okay, MOST) will have a hex pattern cut into the end that your ratchet goes into. It's meant for using a wrench directly on the socket, without the ratchet. Maybe that'll help.

I can get to all my plugs using a ratchet, 7" extension, and spark plug socket. One of the nice benefits of having no air conditioning anymore, and no air pump (ever).

 

Instead of buying a special tool , I would suggest getting a good 3/8" (or whatever drive you have) swivel, Not the U-joint style. Sears hould carry them. I even found some impact grade ones for the really tough stuff. They make any job in a tight area a whole lot easier. I have never had a problem removing any of the plugs in my Bird.

These V6s are easy to work on - I still haven't found an easy way to get at the plugs on my Vette. I might have try taking the back ones out from under the car

Dale

 

I always heard the vettes were a beotch to get. A 86 monte carlo ss is one also. Gotta jack it up, pull the tire and get to them thru the fender area. Still nothing compared to my dodge. cant move the break booster, cant move the engine, cant even put a 1" extenstion on it, but yet no extension wont work, im still trying to find ideas.

 

i use a 3" extension, to a Universal joint, that goes to a 7" extsion, that has the plug socket on it...

No problem for me!!!

 

Plus, I don't know if it was ever mentioned, but RealDeal, don't super-tighten the spark plugs into the heads. They're not meant to be cranked in, torque spec is only about 15 ft/lbs. I stopped using a torque wrench on the plugs because it wasn't worth it; an 1/8th of a turn after "snug" was 15 ft/lbs. So now I just give the plugs an extra 1/8th turn after they stop spinning in easily. Don't undertighten 'em or they can loosen up on you... causing a misfire, or at worst, the plug blows out of the hole, and you think you blew your motor, because as it runs, you hear "PFFFT! PFFFT! PFFFT!" as the motor tries to run on 5 cylinders. The PFFFT! is the air shooting out of the plug hole. No big deal, just turn the motor off, and screw the plug back in.

 

yeah... i tried the extension, but even that wasn't long enough, plus my hands were too big to guide the swivel over the exposed plug... it's ok though, i went to a friend's service shop today and picked up another extension. i should be fine now. i wasn't trying to say that getting to the plug was incredibly hard... just that i think it's in a stupid place. after hearing some other stories about the plugs on other cars, i see how mine isn't so bad. thanks for the help