Header Install and Unruly Plug Boots
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 38
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Tennessee
Header Install and Unruly Plug Boots
Started my ARH long tube install and loosing sanity with these stubborn plug boots. What is the chance of removing the old manifolds out the top or out the bottom without removing the plugs? Thinking that would give me more room to wrestle the boots and plugs out.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,800
Likes: 485
From: Douglas County WI
I haven't ever installed headers, but did have to remove the wires and plugs to change the valve springs. If the wires are stuck on now they are more than likely going to be stuck on with the manifolds removed. You might as well buy new wires right now as odds are you are going to destroy one or more trying to get them off regardless. To give yourself a little advantage, squirt some WD-40 or silicon lube into the boot from the top by forcing a small tube between top of the boot and the plug wire. It should help some. Still, new wires are in order I would say. (Might as well change plugs at the same time.) Upon installation, coat the inside of the new boots with dielectric grease to prevent the boots from sticking to the plugs. Best of luck!
Last edited by glbeauchamp; Jan 18, 2018 at 03:51 PM.
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
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are the wires stock and are you replacing them?... you can use some needle nose pliers to grab the metal heatshields and pull them off but you might bend the shields up doing that... if you are replacing them anyway then it won't matter
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 38
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Tennessee
Got new wires and plugs on hand. Hope the removal of the manifold will allow more room to lock onto the boots and or heat shield. Have little room or purchase to grip the suckers.
Last edited by Oklahomaboy; Jan 18, 2018 at 04:02 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 874
Likes: 107
From: Detroit MI
I used channel locks and just went to town on the boots. Usually the heat shield pulled off first, then I went to chewing away at the rubber boot. Getting the stock wires off is one of the hardest parts of the header job.
Remember to put a dab of dialectric grease on the plugs when you put the new wires on. Then you won't have this problem again.
Remember to put a dab of dialectric grease on the plugs when you put the new wires on. Then you won't have this problem again.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,667
Likes: 1,849
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
If you have new plugs and wires, then don't worry about ripping the old wires.
As for the old manifolds, there should be enough room to remove them from the top to be able to get to the spark plugs.
As for the old manifolds, there should be enough room to remove them from the top to be able to get to the spark plugs.
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