Spark Plugs and wires...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,858
Likes: 2
Re: Spark Plugs and wires... (RadPolo96)
I dunno on the wires though i've heard driver side wires are really tough to do. On plugs, only the #8, #6 plugs are very hard to get to. On the driver side if you take the ASR unit loose from its mounts (two bolts in wheel well and one on a metal stem support rod) and move it back out of the way you can get to the driver side plugs pretty easy, although #7 can be a bit challenging.
Standard plug socket fitting and standard ratchet worked for me. I tried using a universal joint on the #8, #6, #7 plugs but it made it too floppy and hard to get to work right. Hardest thing is trying to get leverage on the #8, #6 plugs to break them loose if prior person put them in hard and/or without anti- seize compound. Anti-seize (good conducting one like copper based type) is a must. To get #8, #6 loose I took a jack handle extension that came with my '94 dakota pickup and slid it over the end of my standard ratchet to extend it about 2 feet... fit like glove and afforded me the extra length on the ratchet to get great leverage to get those two plugs loose. There is not much room to manuever to get leverage for the #8, #6 plugs with the rather short standard ratchet handle (3/8" ratchet), so try to find something to slip onto your ratchet to extend the handle if you've a standard one, just MAKE SURE to keep your other hand down on the end on the plug socket end to counter the torque and keep it straight if you use a handle extension!
it is also somewhat challenging to get the #8, #6, #7 plugs started threading into the holes, because you're basically working blind unable to see the holes, going by feel, but is can be done just be careful not to cross thread them. 1st time I did it, took me about 3 hours for all 8. second time about half the time. At any rate, it beats paying a shop to do it.
[Modified by Lone Ranger, 6:00 PM 10/13/2002]
Standard plug socket fitting and standard ratchet worked for me. I tried using a universal joint on the #8, #6, #7 plugs but it made it too floppy and hard to get to work right. Hardest thing is trying to get leverage on the #8, #6 plugs to break them loose if prior person put them in hard and/or without anti- seize compound. Anti-seize (good conducting one like copper based type) is a must. To get #8, #6 loose I took a jack handle extension that came with my '94 dakota pickup and slid it over the end of my standard ratchet to extend it about 2 feet... fit like glove and afforded me the extra length on the ratchet to get great leverage to get those two plugs loose. There is not much room to manuever to get leverage for the #8, #6 plugs with the rather short standard ratchet handle (3/8" ratchet), so try to find something to slip onto your ratchet to extend the handle if you've a standard one, just MAKE SURE to keep your other hand down on the end on the plug socket end to counter the torque and keep it straight if you use a handle extension!
it is also somewhat challenging to get the #8, #6, #7 plugs started threading into the holes, because you're basically working blind unable to see the holes, going by feel, but is can be done just be careful not to cross thread them. 1st time I did it, took me about 3 hours for all 8. second time about half the time. At any rate, it beats paying a shop to do it.
[Modified by Lone Ranger, 6:00 PM 10/13/2002]
