Changing spark plugs
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,329
Likes: 16
From: Saint Augustine, FL
Mid-TN Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
The basics....
Buy a tube of antiseize
Don't over torque the plugs and make sure they aren't cross-threaded
Don't pull the plugs on a hot engine
Pull the plug wires by the boots, not the wire.
Finally, buy a box of bandaids...you'll need them.
Buy a tube of antiseize
Don't over torque the plugs and make sure they aren't cross-threaded
Don't pull the plugs on a hot engine
Pull the plug wires by the boots, not the wire.
Finally, buy a box of bandaids...you'll need them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 2
From: ATL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
It really is not that bad of a job.
The aft drivers side plug (#7?) was the one I dreaded. I had read a lot about how much trouble people had. In the end, it was not that bad at all.
I took off the coil packs to give me a little extra room and to clean things up a bit.
I went with the MSD red wire set, P/N: 32819 and the NGK TR55 plugs.
Click for a little bigger picture.
The aft drivers side plug (#7?) was the one I dreaded. I had read a lot about how much trouble people had. In the end, it was not that bad at all.
I took off the coil packs to give me a little extra room and to clean things up a bit.
I went with the MSD red wire set, P/N: 32819 and the NGK TR55 plugs.
Click for a little bigger picture.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,359
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
#7 is the only one that's a little tricky, but overall, it's not a big deal.
(this being said, of course, by someone who has changed the plugs in a currently owned LT-1 engined Camaro, and also owned in the past, and changed the plugs in a big block powered '71 Chevelle....then again, that #7 plug in the '68 Chrysler with the 440 was NO picnic either)
(this being said, of course, by someone who has changed the plugs in a currently owned LT-1 engined Camaro, and also owned in the past, and changed the plugs in a big block powered '71 Chevelle....then again, that #7 plug in the '68 Chrysler with the 440 was NO picnic either)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,179
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Originally Posted by Z06ufgrad2002
It's not that difficult.
The only tool that I would recc. is a double swivel spark plug socket. It makes gettting to the rear most plugs a bit easier.
The only tool that I would recc. is a double swivel spark plug socket. It makes gettting to the rear most plugs a bit easier.
Good Luck!
-=Rick
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 4
From: Brentwood TN
Originally Posted by doug b
Has anyone attempted to replace all 8 spark plugs on 1998 C5 / LS-1? If so, were there any major difficulties? What tools were needed?
Pick up a universal joint for your socket wrench to give you some angle on #7 plug.
Do this on a cold engine for a bunch of reasons, mainly to avoid stripping threads in the head or buggering up your hands and arms when the plug finally releases from the pressure of the expanded aluminum (hot vs cold torque difference to remove is substantial). Plus if the engine is hot, you'll burn yourself
Be careful with gapping the platinum and iridium plugs. It isn't hard to bugger the electrodes
Don't even think about putting the plugs back without anit seize
Check to be sure, but I think the install torque is maybe 12 ft lbs or something. I don't have my manual handy and I've slept since I last looked at the spec.
Take your time and have fun. By the way, if you have a Harbor Freight nearby, the plug wire puller, universal, etc., are quite reasonably priced. It might be argued that other brands have higher quality, and if I were going to change plugs for a living or more often than every 100,000 miles, that might be a factor. Watch for sales on both. I picked up my pliers for about $4.00 on sale.
Charlie
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,681
Likes: 1,180
From: Raleigh
Here is an old trick I learned on the old VW Beetles. If you can do plugs in those you can do them in anything. On the number 7 plug I slip a piece of vac. line over the tip of the plug to start it in. I did not like the idea of starting the thing with the socket and universal. This way I had a good feel for what was going on...then when it was in just pull the vac. line off and tighten her up! Not likely to cross thread it that way
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,320
Likes: 2
From: Salem Oregon
Originally Posted by z06inVB
Here is an old trick I learned on the old VW Beetles. If you can do plugs in those you can do them in anything. On the number 7 plug I slip a piece of vac. line over the tip of the plug to start it in. I did not like the idea of starting the thing with the socket and universal. This way I had a good feel for what was going on...then when it was in just pull the vac. line off and tighten her up! Not likely to cross thread it that way
Good tip, Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 4
From: Brentwood TN
Originally Posted by bighank
What kind of antisieze are you talking about? Have changed plugs for about 40 years and never used that before.
BIGHANK
BIGHANK
Charlie
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 319
Likes: 13
From: Macomb Michigan
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Originally Posted by franny40
i changed them out in less than an hour, not bad, but my f body is a different matter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 4
From: Brentwood TN
Originally Posted by The Big Guy
Sorry but I say to change out 8 plugs in a LS - 1 in less than 1 hour is virtually IMPOSSIBLE ! I have the proper tools and experience and it takes considerably longer ! That's my 2 cts.
I am in awe of those who can do this in an hour. Number 7 plug took nearly half that for take out/replace with a cold engine. An hour averages out to 7 1/2 minutes per plug and I cussed #7 longer than that.
Charlie
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,681
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From: Raleigh
Since I am new to these cars I didnt know they were hard to remove. I easily did the LS 6 in the Vette in under an hour. Number 7 was at most a 10 minute operation. I used a swivel deep well socket and an 18 inch extension and it slipped on and came right out. I used the vac. hose trick to get it threaded in and then tightened it. The only thing I did was kill two plug wires but I replaced mine with an autolite set for 34 bucks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 4
From: Brentwood TN
Originally Posted by z06inVB
Since I am new to these cars I didnt know they were hard to remove. I easily did the LS 6 in the Vette in under an hour. Number 7 was at most a 10 minute operation. I used a swivel deep well socket and an 18 inch extension and it slipped on and came right out. I used the vac. hose trick to get it threaded in and then tightened it. The only thing I did was kill two plug wires but I replaced mine with an autolite set for 34 bucks.
Charlie
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
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From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Don't worry about torque... go finger tight + 1/16th turn or so... it's easy. Use a dab of anit-seize.
I start the ones I can by hand... and others in my spark plug socket w/ an extension... I just be very careful and don't apply any forward pressure until I know the threads have started properly.
I start the ones I can by hand... and others in my spark plug socket w/ an extension... I just be very careful and don't apply any forward pressure until I know the threads have started properly.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,329
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
Mid-TN Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by The Big Guy
Sorry but I say to change out 8 plugs in a LS - 1 in less than 1 hour is virtually IMPOSSIBLE ! I have the proper tools and experience and it takes considerably longer ! That's my 2 cts.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Pull the rubber vacuum line out of the power assist unit on the firewall beside #7....bend it out of the way....use a short handle 3/8 rachet and a short extension with the spark plug wrench on it....no problem had it out in minutes. If you value your hands buy some mechanic's gloves when changing the plugs.
