Changed my plugs

**Too Fast** · 03-07-2014, 02:36 AM

Finally did it. Arms scraped some, took a bit over 2 hours with beer breaks lol. Those last 2 on the passenger side, from above, were tight. Managed to get my Popeye forearms back in there after rotating the coil carrier bracket up and away, I didn't remove the last bolt holding it to the valve cover. There was some dirt on the valve cover, gives me a project for another day.

Long tubes FTW!

**pajeff02** · 03-07-2014, 01:14 PM

Congrats! Not too bad a job once you pull some stuff out of the way.

**Naaman** · 03-07-2014, 07:40 PM

I find that pulling the EGR apart (have a couple of gaskets on hand, just in case) and rotating that out of the way, as well as removing the coils helps. With my STB on there, it's kinda annoying since the nut that holds it to the strut tower is "hiding" under the brace... I can't fit any of my wrenches on it... not even sure how I got it on there in the first place...

I'll be doing this this weekend. Kinda dreading it, honestly...

**pajeff02** · 03-08-2014, 03:27 AM

Be sure to pop the pins on the cowl seal or they will shred your hands. Accessing number 8 from under the car is the way to go - depending upon your exhaust setup.

**Too Fast** · 03-08-2014, 04:13 AM

When I went to work yesterday, I showed the scrapes on my arms to a couple techs. One laughed right away, and said, "Oh, you changed your spark plugs!"

Too Fast is running smooth again. She has been starting a bit harder lately, not anymore. I installed iridium NGKs, TR5IX (7397). Not going to use the TR55s, I don't want to do this every couple years. 129k on the odo now. Yes, smack me down since I just now replaced the OE plugs.

**pajeff02** · 03-08-2014, 04:20 AM

For shame! How'd they look when you pulled them? I changed the stock plugs in our Suburban last year at around 85,000 miles and they looked just fine.

**Too Fast** · 03-08-2014, 04:34 AM

2 of them had a huge gap, which probably was the reason for the occasional misfire and long crank time. Otherwise, a light tan and mostly normal looking. Amazing, for the mileage.

**Naaman** · 03-08-2014, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Be sure to pop the pins on the cowl seal or they will shred your hands. Accessing number 8 from under the car is the way to go - depending upon your exhaust setup.

I've tried from underneath, but could not do it. It's the stock exhaust manifolds. I was able (eventually) to get at #8 over the top. It took all afternoon, of course...

**98TransAmWs-6** · 03-08-2014, 11:59 PM

My plugs take 15 minutes to change....no HVAC ftw lol.

**pajeff02** · 03-09-2014, 01:11 AM

It's been a while, but I am almost certain that my first plug change was back when our car had stock manifolds.

**Naaman** · 03-09-2014, 01:12 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

It's been a while, but I am almost certain that my first plug change was back when our car had stock manifolds.

I'm not disputing that it's the "best" way to do it. I myself was just not able to...

**bisogun35** · 03-09-2014, 07:10 AM

wish you success

**bad idea** · 03-12-2014, 03:20 PM

Need to change the plugs? Perfect time to install a pair of long tube headers. Installing my headers was a major, MAJOR pita. But the plugs were so easy w/ no manifolds or headers on the engine!