I was going to put the title "Doesn't everyone remove their tie rod to change a spark plug wire?" but it wouldn't fit.

Beware that this is mostly a rant, but I'm sure many have been through this as well. It might make some feel better when they do the same thing.

I'm going to do this in step by step format rather than including too much comentary. The goal was to change the spark plug wire for #4 cylinder for which the sheilding was burried and, as it turned out, was also burried under the engine mount.

1) Remove entire exhaust system (welded together in one piece).

2) Remove bell housing cover

3) Remove starter motor. (Oops; disconnect battery first)

4) Remove wire shielding

5) Jack up engine. Remove engine mount.

6) Remove fuel pump (needed to get access to one engine mount bolt)

7) Remove tie rod (to get access to one of the fuel pump bolts).

8) Remove fuel line to get even better access to one of the fuel pump bolts.

9) Replace #4 plug wire (looks original. Has anyone heard from Platato?)


Now you may ask, why was my Bubba evil? Well first, it's Halloween when we all think about things spiritual. Second, the reason that I had to remove the engine mount, besides it being broken, was that the plug wire was routed underneath the mount. I'm pretty sure that there wasn't enough clearance to do this without raising the engine. Third, Bubba obviously had trouble with one of the engine mount bolts because it was completely round. Forth, to get the mount bolt off, I tried to remove the fuel pump and simply couldn't get the slightly hidden bolt off. Turns out that Bubba though it might be fun to use two bolts with different head sizes on the fuel pump. For good measure, the hidden one was partially rounded.

The last and worst one though was yet to come. I've had problems since I got this beast with various oil leaks. The engine, in particular has been a real problem. Turns out that the fuel pump gasket was broken, but the mounting plate gasket was missing completely.

 

OK....
So let me get this. In order to replace the spark plug wires you have to remove the tie rod.

or...

in order to remove the spark plug wires, remove the fuel pump first.

You know....you have really been bubba'ed when those two things make sense to you.

kdf

 

And that reply was meant as an agreement to what you were saying...not anything sarcastic. I think many of us have been there were our previous bubba cars.


kdf

 

Now I feel better about rebuilding my car from the ground up
glad you got through it

 

Next time wd-40 the plug boot, pull it off the wire. The plug wire will fall thru the mount. The factory location for the wires is routed between the engine and mount...

 

You know, funny you should mention this...

My dad just tried to remove the old Mallory plug wires that were on the Vette when we bought it; turns out he couldn't get them off because they were routed through some stock wire shielding and were binding up on the sides of the shielding and the rest of the wiring...

Since we had some new Taylor wires, and the old Mallory wires showed signs of burns, he just cut the old wires off and stuck the new Taylors on, routing them down around the exhaust manifold. MUCH easier.

I'm just glad I wasn't around for the cuss fest that must've come out of that one!

BTW, it seems that the previous owner had included a set of OEM replacement wires that he was going to stick on the car at one point, but never actually used them ever...Maybe I should eBay them?

 

I would have brought out the old trusty pocket knife and "fixed" the plug wire but it also sounds like you had some other bidness that needed to be addressed - while you were at it.

Bubba has been to see most of us. I have stated in other threads that if I meet my bubba, I will cause him great harm. Sometimes I think people get things just to see how badly they can screw something up and have it look normal and them pass it on to someone else and then let their "fixes" go bad and cause the new owner nightmares.

Good luck with your ride and may Bubba never grace your garage again.

 

...engine mount ????.....I thought Bubba used duct tape to hold that puppy down......

Sorry to hear you had a bad Halloween........

 

It's interesting that you mention this. I replaced mine last spring and the hardest by far were #'s 2 and 4. I used the old wires to pull the new wires through (taped tightly together and the wire greased). And yes, they both passed through that odd shaped gap in the engine mount. #'s 1 and 3 were easier because I could reach the boomarang-shaped channel and help them along. Big blocks didn't route the wires this way.

But I have to say that at no time did I ever consider removing the headers or fuel pump or whatever. Sounds like bubba wasn't lazy,... just stupid.

 

No way! Really?

When I changed the rest of the wires a couple of months back, I tried to do this but couldn't get the #4 wire to budge. I was putting this off for a while because I thought it was going to be a bear.

 

Platato stole some guys stuff and hasnt been around since.

 

BTDT I think it took me 6 hours to change my plug wires

 

The St Louis C3 Sharks had a tech day Saturday at Bullsharks house and he has a lift. It took us 4 hours just to change the plugs on my 79 and there was at least 4 of us working at a time. What a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

unless you have original wires, bubba did you a favor. this is the factory location for the wires. and absoulutly NO need to remove any of that stuff for wire change. 1/2 hr. tops! ( but i work on cars alot )