I picked up some AC Delco replacement plugs and wanted to know what all I have to do to put them in. I know that I have to gap them. From what I understand I have to bend the little metal hook that comes out of the end right to the proper gap or do I leave that alone and just replace these with what is in the motor. Never done this before.

 

you will probably not have to touch the gap. you will NEED to check it. to do this you need a spark plug gap check gage. this looks like a silver dollar that has a lip that gets wider as you turn it, it has measurements. you stick the gap tool in between the two electrodes until you can fit it in to the 35/100ths mark (or is it 45? ask the parts guy, they can look it up) more then likely the gap will already be set right out of the box.

if you have never changed them you will probably need to change your plug wires as well. i know when i first got my i went to change the plugs and the spark plug wires disintegrated upon removal they were probably original (@ 110K!!!)

other then that you just remove the old ones and put the new ones in. and remember, "drop it once, drop it twice". do not use a spark plug that has been dropped on the ground. they are fragile.

yo can find more info on spark plugs and other tune-up info in this thread.
TomP Tune up

 

Tony, you alwas have good suggestions . I agree mostly on this one, don't get the gapper that has a tapered side that goes from .001 to .1. The kind that have the wire bent and only offers you a few different sizes. They are far more accurate and keep the electrode parrellel to the ground. Also never trust the parts store for gap, I speak from experience .

 

Good job geting the AC delco's They are the best. Last set of plugs I put in my car I hit every part store in town before I seadled for a set of bosh. I don't regret changing brands but the are not as good as the ac's

 

I looked up what everyone liked and made sure the store had those brands.

 

thanks!

i am confused. don't get the coin kind? what is this wire kind you are talking about? i have never seen one.

also regarding gap, your under hood sticker might say what to gap them too. it should be in the chiltons/hynes manual as well.

 

Forgive the quick drawing, but I only have paint. They are bout the same size as the coin kind you are talking about, but they have the four wires with the thousands printed next to it. Some have 5 wires. As far as a cheap gapper, these are great. Although if you spring for a set of feeler guages, you will always have them for multiple uses.

 

i love my feeler gauges. i have never seen the kind you are talking about.

 

Well, the coin kind you are talking about works in most cases. It won't affect the way the car will run, but the wear of the elctrode will be uneven over a long period of time. I have gotten over 70k miles of a set of (non-platinum etc) plugs after keeping the elctrode square to the ground, it was just starting to miss because the gaps had gone from .035 to .065, lol. The fuel ratio was good too judging by the color, I probably could have re-gapped them and put them back in, lmao.