I have a real struggle with getting the straight plug boots to clip onto the rear spark plug terminals in my '72 454 with A/C, PB, and plug heat shields (stock ex. manifolds too). The access to cylinders 5, 7, 6, & 8 is so limited by the A/C and PB that I can't get a firm hold or any leverage on the boots. The boots just squish around so I'm thinking I need to get hose pliers to assist. The reason I'm not just going out to Harbor Freight or Ace is that the tip angle has to be pretty specific to get into the heat shields and provide decent access coming at the boots parallel to the block.

After reinstalling the plugs from a recent task and then on a Saturday drive, the engine started missing and idling roughly. At least one of the boots hadn't snapped onto its plug terminal and the exhaust manifold was way too hot to do anything by hand. Pliers, I need pliers!

Does anyone have a set of these that you use for this purpose that they'd have to pry from your cold dead hands to get away from you? Brand name?

 

Put some non-conductive silicone grease on the entry area to the boot. It will help get them on AND it will help get them OFF later.

 

If you take the egg crate off you will have plenty of access

 

Thank you both for the replies.

7T1, I use a bit of dielectric grease on the boots which helps, but the clips are pretty tight to get snapped on the plug ends. I think the soft silicone boots make the job more difficult because of their squishy flexibility.

forman, I hadn't thought of going through the egg crates -- I'll give that a shot.

 

Thanks forman,
I had high hopes but on my car, not so much. On the driver's side, there is all sorts of stuff in the way: vapor canister, steering shaft, all varieties of cables and wires. I can barely reach my arm in there due to the tight squeeze through all of this stuff. On the passenger side, the A/C evaporator and valves block the #8 completely, the #6 almost completely. I guess from underneath is my next avenue of approach.

... or just buying pliers and seeing how they work or are limited by head angle and making another purchase if needed. I guess there's not a "must-have" plier(s) out there for the job.

 

Yeah if it was the other side you would have been good I’m blesses I have a harbor freight scissor, Jack in my garage that I bought off Craigslist years ago I also have a big block in my car it is a little challenging to get in small spaces around the engine but I manage

 

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Pliers

 

The boot pliers work best in removing the boot. But, as you say, the boots are quite squishy when trying to snap the terminal back onto the plugs. I have a small block, but I find it easier to get the back two plugs, on each side, from underneath (remove and install). As you install the boot, twist the boot slightly back and forth until the metal terminal touches the top of the spark plug. Wiggle the top of the boot to find the center of the terminal over the spark plug. Hold the top of the boot between the thumb and forefinger and push as straight as you can to snap the terminal onto the plug. At times on other vehicle applications, I have pushed the plug wire through the boot to expose the terminal to install first, then push the boot down over the wire and plug,