Why are we always damned?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,520
Likes: 1,306
From: Windermere FL
Why are we always damned?
Well I almost gave up. Just spent 6 hours changing my plugs and wires on my vert. Should have taken 2 - I know. Was just about ready to give up.
Problem (of course) started on the first plug #1. Removed the splash panel and did all the normal tricks of universals, extensions and even the hose. NOTHING could make that plug thread in! After two hours, I managed to get it. But only after I sacrificed a pint of blood. I know our engines are supposed to be red (all vettes are Red) but having the top of the plenum smeared with my blood is not what is meant.
It seemed once I had given up a pint, and and a few tools, along with a spark plug - which dropped into the abyss and then got beamed up by Scottie, the car was happy and relented and permitted me to continue. The rest went easy.
Ok, I admit I have full length headers but this is ridiculous.
Is there some ceremony we are supposed to do before normal maintenance to appease the car? I don't see one listed in the Helms manual.
Problem (of course) started on the first plug #1. Removed the splash panel and did all the normal tricks of universals, extensions and even the hose. NOTHING could make that plug thread in! After two hours, I managed to get it. But only after I sacrificed a pint of blood. I know our engines are supposed to be red (all vettes are Red) but having the top of the plenum smeared with my blood is not what is meant.
It seemed once I had given up a pint, and and a few tools, along with a spark plug - which dropped into the abyss and then got beamed up by Scottie, the car was happy and relented and permitted me to continue. The rest went easy.
Ok, I admit I have full length headers but this is ridiculous.
Is there some ceremony we are supposed to do before normal maintenance to appease the car? I don't see one listed in the Helms manual.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Pay one of the skinny neighborhood kids with long arms $20 to do it for you next time. Same goes for when you need to change tail light bulbs in an 84 to 90.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,742
Likes: 43
From: Color my life with the chaos of trouble.
Just start pulling pieces off and eventually it gets easier. You don't need most of it anyway. 
~25 minutes for all 8 plugs on the LT-4. I can do a water pump in ~10
~25 minutes for all 8 plugs on the LT-4. I can do a water pump in ~10
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,131
Likes: 283
From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
As a loyal employee of MAC Tools, I believe there is the right tool for every job........... as long as that job isn't on a Vette
I have every tool known to mankind, what I don't have I get one as a sample to try out. They work on every car I own, almost. I can use the same tool on my Jeep and my Chevy truck (yes, I'm leaving my Taurus out of this one) and it's fine but will cease to operate properly on the Vette.
I have every tool known to mankind, what I don't have I get one as a sample to try out. They work on every car I own, almost. I can use the same tool on my Jeep and my Chevy truck (yes, I'm leaving my Taurus out of this one) and it's fine but will cease to operate properly on the Vette.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
"Well, If I gotta be damned you know I wanna be damned..."
I found spark plugs to be one of the most annoying jobs (after pulling an exhaust manifold)...trying to get the right alignment...limited space for your hand let alone fingers...wrench is either too short or too long...
Love the engineering, hate the assembly.
I found spark plugs to be one of the most annoying jobs (after pulling an exhaust manifold)...trying to get the right alignment...limited space for your hand let alone fingers...wrench is either too short or too long...
Love the engineering, hate the assembly.
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Can you get some of the plugs from underneath the car????
That's what I used to do on my LT1 Vert when it still had factory manifolds. I'd do the rear Passenger side plug backwards I found that facing away from the car and reaching backwards I could get my hand on the plug
Mike
That's what I used to do on my LT1 Vert when it still had factory manifolds. I'd do the rear Passenger side plug backwards I found that facing away from the car and reaching backwards I could get my hand on the plug
Mike
Last edited by aboatguy; Nov 29, 2009 at 07:48 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
ol' time magic
i slip a STRAIGHT piece of 3/8'' fuel hose (old style low pressure hose) abt 3'' long onto the spark plug end for finger grip to start em in...don't have any 'theories' why, but the spark plugs find the hole and thread in, as if some 'magic hand' is helping...works fer me, sober or not
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,242
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From: San Antonio Texas
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
PITA
I cant elaborate because I've never owned a LS F Body. Just look at that hood
Remember, the 93 Camaro was designed to haul the LT engines. GM shoved the LS in 98.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: NY
But seriously, you need to do some fancy work though to get around certian parts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
more evidence of a GM 'grey matter' problem ???
Last edited by redrose; Nov 29, 2009 at 09:24 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 2
From: Prather, California -1990 ZR-1 White/Flame Red- -SOLD!!-
Yup, LT5 sparkplugs are cake to get to! 
I consider myself lucky to be able to own one of the less than 6,900 (actually 6,939, but some are totaled) ZR-1's in existance. Yes, I know, they can be had fairly cheaply right now, but I don't think that will last forever.
I consider myself lucky to be able to own one of the less than 6,900 (actually 6,939, but some are totaled) ZR-1's in existance. Yes, I know, they can be had fairly cheaply right now, but I don't think that will last forever.
..