C5 Spark Plug Removable ?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 319
Likes: 13
From: Macomb Michigan
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
C5 Spark Plug Removable ?
99 6MM coupe. Original Owner.140,000 miles. All stock. Non raced. 2nd set of AC Iridium plugs have 68,000 miles on them. I did not apply any lub of any kind to the threads. Car runs great. Considering new plug installation. I have heard that there may be a problem in getting them out due to " welding " ,carbon etc. What if any problems, if any have any of you great guys had.
Your experiences please.
The Big Guy !
Your experiences please.
The Big Guy !
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 832
Likes: 14
From: Lake Charles Louisiana
Just changed mine out at around 57K. Only problem I had was getting the boots off. Literally destroyed everyone of them so you should plan on changing wires also. Didn't look like there was any anti-seize used on the originals. Zero problems getting them out. The new ones got a healthy dose of Never-Seize and both ends of the boots also got a healthy dose of di-electric grease. If you grease the boots make sure they click on good and re-check them several times within a week or so to make sure none backed off on you.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
The engine should be dead iron cold when you remove them. A new set of GM Performance Red Wires will make you happy. They fit and look excellent, Contact Gene Culley www.gmpartshouse.com for a complete set $62.
A little bit of anti seize on the new plugs will help in future maintenance. Always use Dielectric Grease on the wire boots.
Bill
A little bit of anti seize on the new plugs will help in future maintenance. Always use Dielectric Grease on the wire boots.
Bill
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 580
Likes: 1
From: Chicago Suburb
St. Jude Donor '13
Wires
The engine should be dead iron cold when you remove them. A new set of GM Performance Red Wires will make you happy. They fit and look excellent, Contact Gene Culley www.gmpartshouse.com for a complete set $62.
A little bit of anti seize on the new plugs will help in future maintenance. Always use Dielectric Grease on the wire boots.
Bill
A little bit of anti seize on the new plugs will help in future maintenance. Always use Dielectric Grease on the wire boots.
Bill
GM wires OK with headers?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Ive had headers and stock designed wires installed on my 02 since 2004. No heat or fitment issues what so ever. I use the C5 wires with the metal shields.
My Stainless Works Headers have 1 3/4" primaries. If your boots actually TOUCH the header, you will either need coolsox or a different designed plug wire boot. The C6 ZO6 wires have a 90 deg boot that may fit where the the stock C5 design may not. It all depends on your header tube design and routing.
NONE, if mine touch at all.
Bill
My Stainless Works Headers have 1 3/4" primaries. If your boots actually TOUCH the header, you will either need coolsox or a different designed plug wire boot. The C6 ZO6 wires have a 90 deg boot that may fit where the the stock C5 design may not. It all depends on your header tube design and routing.
NONE, if mine touch at all.
Bill
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 319
Likes: 13
From: Macomb Michigan
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Thank you all for your suggestions. The boots have not been a problem as I have used a Lisle Adjustable Spark Plug Wire Puller #51750. It works like unbelievable. Further I might add that it has been 8 years since I replaced the plugs. No one has answered my ? regarding possible stripping the threads from the head upon pulling the plugs after a long interval of use. Your further thoughts,Please.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,302
Likes: 1,583
From: Western NY
I don't want to sound sarcastic, but in my opinion, there's no hard, set answer. You just have to carefully remove them, and as Bill has already said, make sure the car is COLD. My suggestion would be to get the car in a position that you can work on it, the night before, then start the job the next morning...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Ive seen a few cases where the engine had 90+K miles on it and they had thread strip issues. Ive also see 90+K miles and they came out without issue. What difference does it make. The only way to find out is to remove them. There are a lot more success stories than failure stories.
You should be fine.
You should be fine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
If you need to spray some PB Blaster on the cold plugs and wait a couple hours
The engine should be dead iron cold when you remove them. A new set of GM Performance Red Wires will make you happy. They fit and look excellent, Contact Gene Culley www.gmpartshouse.com for a complete set $62.
A little bit of anti seize on the new plugs will help in future maintenance. Always use Dielectric Grease on the wire boots.
Bill
A little bit of anti seize on the new plugs will help in future maintenance. Always use Dielectric Grease on the wire boots.
Bill
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 319
Likes: 13
From: Macomb Michigan
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
My most sincere " Thanks " to all you great fellow Vette people. It seems that I should be OK to just use a little " Blaster " and proceed with reason and caution. Also include the addition of Anti Seize and Die Electric to complete the job. Thanks for the tip on where to purchase the wires.
Good Luck to all,
The Big Guy !
Good Luck to all,
The Big Guy !
