Spark plug socket Q
Thread Starter
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,285
Likes: 3
From: Fort St John B.C
Spark plug socket Q
Ive never had to ask for help on changing spark plugs before, But theres a first for everything, right?
Anyway, I got the first 3 on the pass. side changed, went to the back one and my socket will not fit, i tried pushing hard as i can and turning, but it just feels like its stripped or something, Same thing on the front most driver side plug, I havent tried the other three yet tho,
Any ideas? Oh, and hte socket is pretty thin, dont know if i could find a thinner walled one.
Thanks
Anyway, I got the first 3 on the pass. side changed, went to the back one and my socket will not fit, i tried pushing hard as i can and turning, but it just feels like its stripped or something, Same thing on the front most driver side plug, I havent tried the other three yet tho,
Any ideas? Oh, and hte socket is pretty thin, dont know if i could find a thinner walled one.
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 5
From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Stripped? Take your fingers and feel it and see what it feels like. Maybe you have the incorrect socket? I have never had any problems with removing my plugs and I have done it at least 20 times.
Best of luck,
Micah
Best of luck,
Micah
Thread Starter
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,285
Likes: 3
From: Fort St John B.C
Yeah, Ive got the 5/8 spark plug socket and ive done 3 already, but i cant get the back one, it feels like if goes on, but after a quarter turn it 'pops' off.
Im also thinking they are the original plugs as well, so they shoudlnt be stripped.
Im going to go try the drivers side now.
Im also thinking they are the original plugs as well, so they shoudlnt be stripped.
Im going to go try the drivers side now.
Thread Starter
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,285
Likes: 3
From: Fort St John B.C
Well, Ive got every one changed except those two, (#'s 1 and 8)
The socket wont fit in the hole in the head on #1, and #8 it feels like it is just barely reaching, but then slips off.
Yes i do have a universal joint, all the other ones were fairly easy, they were pretty snug, but no troubles.
Theres no way im going to find a thinner wall socket either, unless i grind some off.
The socket wont fit in the hole in the head on #1, and #8 it feels like it is just barely reaching, but then slips off.
Yes i do have a universal joint, all the other ones were fairly easy, they were pretty snug, but no troubles.
Theres no way im going to find a thinner wall socket either, unless i grind some off.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,340
Likes: 24,779
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Are you sure the socket itself is not stripped? Are these the original plugs? If so, no reason why the socket should not work on all the plugs. Hope you can figure it out and get the rest of the plugs changed out.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
From: Webster New York
Take a look at the socket
I split one once! There was a hairline fracture in the socket wall and would work sometime... but the really tight stuff would make the side of the socket spread and the chrone finish hid the crack. It was very hard to see !!!
Thread Starter
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,285
Likes: 3
From: Fort St John B.C
The socket is good, its brand new,
Thing is I cant see the hex on the spark plug to tell if its stripped or not, and of course i cant find a mirror
If I had to take an educated guess Id say they are the originals, i am the 2nd owner so im not positive.
Thanks for the quick replies...
Thing is I cant see the hex on the spark plug to tell if its stripped or not, and of course i cant find a mirror
If I had to take an educated guess Id say they are the originals, i am the 2nd owner so im not positive.
Thanks for the quick replies...
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Another mystery solved!!!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 5
From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
I am surprised your plug wires relayed well, looks like connectivity would have been affected by that, which would have made your car run really "poopy."
Glad you got things worked out.
Micah
Glad you got things worked out.
Micah
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,565
Likes: 6
From: Henderson NV
Gotta ask, what'd you do to get to those two plugs? Cut that gasket? That's a header gasket, right? Getting to #1 plug and cuttinig the gasket is ok, but getting to and cutting the gasket for #8 may be another adventure in itself.
Good luck
Mick
Good luck
Mick
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 79
Likes: 1
From: Willow Springs/ High Desert Ca
I hope that you know that aluminum heads need anti-seize on the spark plug threads. Critical step sometimes unknown to those from iron head experience.
My first Honda M/C taught me that lesson, I hope someone here can benefit. I can sleep easier now that I typed this.
My first Honda M/C taught me that lesson, I hope someone here can benefit. I can sleep easier now that I typed this.
Thread Starter
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,285
Likes: 3
From: Fort St John B.C
I was unaware of the 'anti-sieze' for alum. heads, i dont really want to take them out again, esp. # 1 and 8.
(What should a guy use?I use teflon tape and kopr kote at work all the time, but i dont think thats good with the heat?)
Yes, header gaaskets, and surprisingly I didnt cuss that much, or have any cool ones
I was more curious why the gaskets are in the way in the first place?
And for # 1 i took the alternator off so i could tap the socket on with a hammer, as for # 8, it wasnt as easy, I tapped and pushed with everything i had and finally got it on there.
I think I might find a way and remove some of that gasket so this isnt an issue in the future.
Thanks
(What should a guy use?I use teflon tape and kopr kote at work all the time, but i dont think thats good with the heat?)
Yes, header gaaskets, and surprisingly I didnt cuss that much, or have any cool ones
I was more curious why the gaskets are in the way in the first place?
And for # 1 i took the alternator off so i could tap the socket on with a hammer, as for # 8, it wasnt as easy, I tapped and pushed with everything i had and finally got it on there.
I think I might find a way and remove some of that gasket so this isnt an issue in the future.
Thanks