Never thought this would hold me up.

My #1 and #4 spark plugs are putting up a big fight.

Ive got 2 inch BB headers tubes, so they are very tight fit.

Getting under neath the car sort of worked for #1 with the offset wrench, but not for #4.

Have cracked both of these plugs, they have since been replaced but are not installed.

Here is a pic of what does NOT WORK/FIT.
Is there a magic spark plug 5/8 inch wrench/socket that anyone can recommend to get to these? Basically they are to long and it cannot make the angle around the header tube to get on to the plug.
If the socket is to short, then I am unable to put a ratchet on it. I tried a short larger drive 5/8 socket but I am unable to grab it with pliers since it slips.
Figured I would go poke around Sears/craftsmen section and see what they got.

I would hate to have to take the headers off LOL...

Thanks,


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grind a relief in a cheap/old socket. It is usually enough to loosen the plug.

 

It sounds like you can get a short socket on. If you can find a short one with a hex end like the one in the picture above, then you might be able to put it on and use a wrench on the hex end.

 

That's what I used to get to the plugs when I still had headers on my black79. Made changing plugs an easy 10 minute job!
NOW, with the stock cast iron manifolds back on.....

 

Yep, maybe. Mr Force, where did you get that cheap socket you cut on?
If you see my pic the one normal looking socket is actually a little shorter. It makes the angle and fits on to the plug good, but its to close to the header tube and will not allow me to put a socket on. A short hex end might possibly work.

 

Wait....if we are talking about a big block, then yes, use a socket and once on the plug....then use the boxed end side of a wrench to turn it....NOT a rachet(I think you mentioned socket instead of rachet)

 

You can also shorten the socket by chopping some off the lenght and then using a wrench that works for me

 

why not just loosen the headers some?

I don't know about big block headers but on my SB it's just 3 bolts down under the car(usually take off 2 and loosen 1). Then it's the header bolts till it comes loose.

Seems like this would be much easier for me then cutting up a socket and hoping that helps...

 

Been there, done that, got a T-Shirt !

 

snoopy, I meant with the shorter socket I have,, it does not have a hex end on it like Mr Force. It does fit onto the plug, but I am unable to get a rachet on the end of it.
But if I find a socket similar to his, I can put a wrench on the end of it like you mentioned.
Found this one on the chevelle forums. Similar.

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And of course good ole Cheap Snap on... lol.
All for the low price of $30 plus shipping. I actually tried this with a bigger drive socket, but it does not have the hex head on the end of it and no way to turn it.

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Thanks,

 

Try the sockets with holes all the way through with a slotted ratchet that goes over the the socket. Sears and harbor freight have them. With the short extension I can get to #4 from the top or bottom. The sets are a little weird for normal use but work for plug removal. I got them for plugs on my 73 BB with headers.

 

Here's the one I made for my last motor, I also ground down the hex end too, then you use a wrench on it. Works like a charm

 

thanks for the pics. I had no idea sparkplugs stick out that far on some cars. On mine the tips are practically invisible. I was having a hard time understanding what the problem was.

 

Great pics. Pictures sure make things so much clearer. I can clearly see the benefits of the cut in the socket can do for you. That one plug is tight. Thx Motorhead.

 

You can't just put an open ended wrench on 'em? That's what I always do. You can't get a clean angle on them, but unless they've been over-torqued then it's good enough to break them loose.

 

On angle-plug heads, you can't get an open end on the plugs due to the angle. On other heads, the plugs are in a counterbore in the head, so you can't put an open end on the plug due to the recessed plug hex in the counterbore. The Motorhead-style cut socket is they only way to do it unless you pull the headers back.

 

Wcsinx that would be NO. If you see my original pic above, an offset wrench or opened will not fit since the plugs are way up and angled into the heads. Unlike motorheads pics, I can barley see the tip of the plug sticking out when looking straight down.


YES- exactly to what LARS just said. His description is more refined than my babble... ; - )

 

Some head / header combinations you can some you can't simple as that. The one thing I would like to try is one of those old deep offset wrenches with the box end on both ends.
http://www.thefind.com/hardware/info...box-end-wrench

One thing to remember, what works on your engine might not on another similar motor especially when it comes to heads and headers and spark plugs.

 

roger that

It's tight on my engine, but I can just barely get enough bite.

On another note Lars, how do I get more fuel into my Qjet's idle circuit?

 

I'm probably off base but you did say you have 2 inch BB headers. I have a big block but with 1-7/8 inch headers. Your problem is one I've lived with for 33 years.

The easy one first. Plug #1 is just plain tight. The header has to get past the steering gearbox so it takes a hard turn to the rear:

The socket is no where near as special as the ones already shown but it is different. The one on the left is a Craftsman deep 5/8", the middle one is a junk one picked up at Advanced Auto Supply (I think it was at the checkout counter) and the one on the right is the Craftsman plug socket. It's just a little shorter than the others and seems to do the job.


Now for the hard one. Looking down from the top it's barely visible.

Going under the car isn't much help but I did get an assist when I bought my first big block. It was a '69 and it had a neat little hole in the inner fender panel. When I bought this '72 six months later, it didn't have the hole so I drilled my own. I guessed wrong so I had to enlarge the hole. One of these years I'll get a nice plug and round the hole more neatly. This is just a ballpark idea where it is.

Looking through the hole, you can see the plug and with a long extension, you can remove it with no trouble and no broken plug.


The plug socket is $3.59 so you could buy two or three and try different versions.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...1&blockType=G1