Spark plugs
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: Canton Michigan
Spark plugs
I went to look at a 69 vert the other day, looking to pick up my first vette. Anyway the guy that owns it was telling me that he just spent like 5 hours the other day changing the spark plugs.
The guy told me that there is like no room to work on these things at all and its an all day project to change the little things is this true or is this guy a moron?
The guy told me that there is like no room to work on these things at all and its an all day project to change the little things is this true or is this guy a moron?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: Canton Michigan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
I went to look at a 69 vert the other day, looking to pick up my first vette. Anyway the guy that owns it was telling me that he just spent like 5 hours the other day changing the spark plugs. The guy told me that there is like no room to work on these things at all and its an all day project to change the little things is this true or is this guy a moron?
The guy told me that there is like no room to work on these things at all and its an all day project to change the little things is this true or is this guy a moron?It's actually a pretty easy job on a small block 69 - maybe an hour if you are REAL slow!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
One thing that makes a big difference in changing plugs is if the ignition shielding is on the car or not. In particular the lower shielding, as this can add some time. Sadly many folks trashed their shielding early on because of this. (New sets of shielding are not cheap! )
Having said that, I've found that it isn't a terribly difficult job (even with the shielding on) and certainly isn't an all day job. I would guess if you're slow, (like me) and methodical, 2 hours to change 8 plugs. My '73 has no A/C or power brakes, so I do it all from the top side. On my '77 with A/C & power brakes, I found that changing the rear 2 plugs (on both sides) was easiest if done from below. This is with all of the shielding in place of course.
Good luck with your purchase. If your car has not been "Bubba-fied" you will find it no more difficult to work on than most other V-8's of the era, and definitely easier than some...
GUSTO
)Having said that, I've found that it isn't a terribly difficult job (even with the shielding on) and certainly isn't an all day job. I would guess if you're slow, (like me) and methodical, 2 hours to change 8 plugs. My '73 has no A/C or power brakes, so I do it all from the top side. On my '77 with A/C & power brakes, I found that changing the rear 2 plugs (on both sides) was easiest if done from below. This is with all of the shielding in place of course.
Good luck with your purchase. If your car has not been "Bubba-fied" you will find it no more difficult to work on than most other V-8's of the era, and definitely easier than some...
GUSTO
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: Canton Michigan
Thank's for the info guys im really excited about the car. Its beautiful completly orig everthing, best looking vert ive seen. I have never owend a vette or worked on one, so the guy kinda freaked me out a bit telling me I need to have special tools and have all day to work on the the smallest little things.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
I went to look at a 69 vert the other day, looking to pick up my first vette. Anyway the guy that owns it was telling me that he just spent like 5 hours the other day changing the spark plugs. The guy told me that there is like no room to work on these things at all and its an all day project to change the little things is this true or is this guy a moron?
The guy told me that there is like no room to work on these things at all and its an all day project to change the little things is this true or is this guy a moron?
I have a 68 327 and I can have my plugs changed out in like 15 minutes add one hour for beer breaks
. the wireing may take a little longer espacially if the original shielding is in place but I call
also an AC car may hadd some time but not much
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
From: Fredericksburg Va
I have a 69 427 BB and all the plugs are just sitting there in the open waving at me.....
On my 77 Small Block....now those are a PITA...... A lift comes in real handy.
If the guy spent 5 hours on the plugs make sure you get that car up on a rack, bring a friend and look at the car really good....
Rd
On my 77 Small Block....now those are a PITA...... A lift comes in real handy.
If the guy spent 5 hours on the plugs make sure you get that car up on a rack, bring a friend and look at the car really good....
Rd
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta GA
A few things could be happening:
A) The guy was drunk
B) The guy was charging by the hour
C) The guy was a moron
E) All of the above
Yesterday, I changed out the plugs on my 350 with headers and drank a beer during the process and it took about 30 minutes! If you have full size plugs (not shorty plugs) and headers then it takes a tad longer but I did this in 40 minutes and I'm no mechanic. A 350 or 454 with factory manifolds should not take longer than 30 to 40 minutes and easy slow pace!!
A) The guy was drunk
B) The guy was charging by the hour
C) The guy was a moron
E) All of the above
Yesterday, I changed out the plugs on my 350 with headers and drank a beer during the process and it took about 30 minutes! If you have full size plugs (not shorty plugs) and headers then it takes a tad longer but I did this in 40 minutes and I'm no mechanic. A 350 or 454 with factory manifolds should not take longer than 30 to 40 minutes and easy slow pace!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
As mentioned by Gusto14 the difference lies in whether or not all the ignition shielding is in place. The plugs themselves aren't any real problem but getting the shielding off and especially back on is a rather fiddly job. If you're a hotrodder type who's constantly reading and changing plugs you'll get tired of it pretty quickly. My car is just a stock driver with a Pertronix and Flamethrower coil; the plugs have stayed clean for 30,000 miles. If you're gonna hotrod your car though put the shields in a box (if you still have them).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 1
From: St Augustine FL
easy on a stock car.....Change most of them from below the car not over the fender wells. most of the plugs are easier to reach from the bottom side. Takes me about 30 min or so to change mine. If he took all day, he must have changed the plugs, wires, distributor, took a 4hour nap in the middle of the job and stopped for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 114
From: St. Louis Mo
I went to look at a 69 vert the other day, looking to pick up my first vette. Anyway the guy that owns it was telling me that he just spent like 5 hours the other day changing the spark plugs. The guy told me that there is like no room to work on these things at all and its an all day project to change the little things is this true or is this guy a moron?
The guy told me that there is like no room to work on these things at all and its an all day project to change the little things is this true or is this guy a moron?
......LT