Spark Plugs From Hell
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 60
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From: Greenville Mississippi
Spark Plugs From Hell
Hello all, as a newbie here and first time Corvette Owner(1989 White with Black interior) vette.jpg decided to read here first and conquer the task of a tuneup( plugs , wires, cap and rotor) I began at 8am CST and followed the instructions from the forum I purchased NGK IX plugs (side bar: when purchasing plugs for cars that use different heads take one of the existing plus out first to confirm that the new plug will fit) I went to Advance Auto and ordered what it showed to be the correct plug the day before, they were wrong took them back and got the tr55ix they fit. Well 8 hours and many @#$$#%%^ later. I was done. MY TIP FOR ANYONE NEW TRYING TO DO THIS. remove the passenger side third plug wire ( the straight one), use the end of the plug wire to hand tighten the new plugs. This save my sanity as the third and fourth plug on the passenger side went right in using this, it did take me several hours to find this out. Now it time to change a squeaky rear caliper.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Welcome and congrats on your new '89 Vette.
FYI, doing the right bank is much easier if you first remove:
-the two AIR tubes
-the A/C compressor brace
-the inspection panel on the inner fender well
FYI, doing the right bank is much easier if you first remove:
-the two AIR tubes
-the A/C compressor brace
-the inspection panel on the inner fender well
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Think he outta go clean and tighten his G104 grounds?
May as well while he's got the band-aids out...
Welcome to my world !
I'll say it again,
I bleed as well as anybody ! I have more leaks than the car does. Guess that's the point ~
May as well while he's got the band-aids out...
Welcome to my world !
I'll say it again,
I bleed as well as anybody ! I have more leaks than the car does. Guess that's the point ~
Last edited by leesvet; Jul 13, 2014 at 12:55 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,552
Likes: 936
From: Communist Colorado
[QUOTE=tlxxtl;1587349168. MY TIP FOR ANYONE NEW TRYING TO DO THIS. remove the passenger side third plug wire ( the straight one), use the end of the plug wire to hand tighten the new plugs.[/QUOTE]
One of the oldest tricks in the book is to use a length of rubber fuel hose or similar to start plugs into their bores... wish I coulda' told ya that before hand.
One of the oldest tricks in the book is to use a length of rubber fuel hose or similar to start plugs into their bores... wish I coulda' told ya that before hand.
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Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 261
Likes: 2
From: Boise Idaho
Bummer!
On an L98, the simple way is a short 1" extension, and one of the Stanley twist or rotator ratchets (89-962). Kobalt has one too.
The other tip is on plug #2: drill a 1/2 inch hole just left of the cover for the right upper control arm, directly inline with #2 plug. Use an extension, and the ratchet in the wheel well; took me until 1995 to figure that one out. It is possible to do an L98 plug change well inside of 45 minutes, even shorter.
Sorry you had such a rough go of it.
On an L98, the simple way is a short 1" extension, and one of the Stanley twist or rotator ratchets (89-962). Kobalt has one too.
The other tip is on plug #2: drill a 1/2 inch hole just left of the cover for the right upper control arm, directly inline with #2 plug. Use an extension, and the ratchet in the wheel well; took me until 1995 to figure that one out. It is possible to do an L98 plug change well inside of 45 minutes, even shorter.
Sorry you had such a rough go of it.
Last edited by Black LS2; Jul 17, 2014 at 02:15 AM. Reason: Grammar
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 603
From: Minneapolis Mn
Tools
I found something called a Sidewinder several years ago. It's a ratchet wrench with a T-Handle on it. You can use it like a regular ratchet wrench plus if you don't have enough swing to turn it you can use the T-handle to turn the socket further. I haven't used it yet on a Corvette but I have on my older T-Bird and it worked out for me.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 63
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I found my 86 to have aluminum head plugs in a cast iron head. The reach of the plug and sealing are VERY different.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
I found that with my 85 it was easier to get plug #8 out from under the car by using a plug socket with the hex on the end so you can get a wrench on it.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 60
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From: Greenville Mississippi
How can I tell which heads are on my car? mine are painted black.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,455
Likes: 6
From: MichAgain
Still not as bad as doing the plugs on a F-word 150 with the Triton engine.... Special "long shank" plugs that "frequently" break while trying to remove them.... so much that there's a special tool that cost (at the time) about $160 to extract the broken plugs.
Welcome to "Bloody-Knuckles" garage
Welcome to "Bloody-Knuckles" garage
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 703
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From: Milwaukee Wi
Sears sells a socket wrench set called max access. the socket allows the plug to pass through it and the wrench then holds socket at the socket middle outside. worked like magic on my vette with headers. I am sure you can buy the wrench and socket individually.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
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From: Jacksonville FL