For Everyone Looking At Changing Plugs...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,215
Likes: 1
From: Mt Isle Harbor NC
For Everyone Looking At Changing Plugs...
I just slid in some NGK TR55's yesterday and I am going to clear up some myths for you guys.
First of all, anyone with a socket wrench can do this install themselves. I was quoted $120 from two dealerships and between $100 and $120 from 4 or 5 other local mechanics. All said it would take them 2 hours to change them out.
Minus the hour I spent searching for a plug that I uhhhh.... "dropped" in the engine, the total job took me two hours. And I am not a mechanic by any means.
Plug #7 "Myth": Impossible to get to; without proper tools you have to lift the engine; you have to go to Autozone and buy a $50 swivel socket wrench; blah blah blah. All of that is a myth. While it was not exactly easy to get to, a regular socket wrench with a 5/8 spark plug socket will do the whole job.
I had 72,000 miles on my original plugs, which were nubs when I changed them. I put in the new NGK's and they are awesome! Thumbs up to anyone out there looking. $18 Total investment.
First of all, anyone with a socket wrench can do this install themselves. I was quoted $120 from two dealerships and between $100 and $120 from 4 or 5 other local mechanics. All said it would take them 2 hours to change them out.
Minus the hour I spent searching for a plug that I uhhhh.... "dropped" in the engine, the total job took me two hours. And I am not a mechanic by any means.
Plug #7 "Myth": Impossible to get to; without proper tools you have to lift the engine; you have to go to Autozone and buy a $50 swivel socket wrench; blah blah blah. All of that is a myth. While it was not exactly easy to get to, a regular socket wrench with a 5/8 spark plug socket will do the whole job.
I had 72,000 miles on my original plugs, which were nubs when I changed them. I put in the new NGK's and they are awesome! Thumbs up to anyone out there looking. $18 Total investment.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 7,758
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth Texas
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: For Everyone Looking At Changing Plugs... (REDLYNER)
I agree. The swivel socket does make it much easier tho. :thumbs:
I have a how to in the tech tips section.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...ID=7&TopicID=1
I have a how to in the tech tips section.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...ID=7&TopicID=1
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,718
Likes: 2
From: Flower Mound TX
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: For Everyone Looking At Changing Plugs... (calivette)
Interesting that you got #7 with a ratchet and a socket. I have the Snap-On swivel and can't imagine doing the job with it!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,331
Likes: 39
Re: For Everyone Looking At Changing Plugs... (REDLYNER)
Good for you dude! :cheers: :thumbs:
Besides not having to shell out $120 you don't have to be concerned that your paint is not scratched and some less than carring tech had his way with the other stuff in your engine bay.
Next time the plugs will take you 45 minutes then the next time 20 minutes.
Now add oil changes, and brakes to your list of easy mechanical things you can do and start spending that cash on other things.
Besides not having to shell out $120 you don't have to be concerned that your paint is not scratched and some less than carring tech had his way with the other stuff in your engine bay.
Next time the plugs will take you 45 minutes then the next time 20 minutes.
Now add oil changes, and brakes to your list of easy mechanical things you can do and start spending that cash on other things.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 5
From: Mount Vernon Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Re: For Everyone Looking At Changing Plugs... (Gary2KC5)
"Now add oil changes, and brakes to your list of easy mechanical things you can do and start spending that cash on other things."
:iagree:
I went from changing plugs to changing the torque converter and rearend. Nice to be able to do it yourself and feel that sense of accomplishment. :cheers: :cheers: :auto:
:iagree:
I went from changing plugs to changing the torque converter and rearend. Nice to be able to do it yourself and feel that sense of accomplishment. :cheers: :cheers: :auto:
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
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,215
Likes: 1
From: Mt Isle Harbor NC
Re: For Everyone Looking At Changing Plugs... (Gar)
Yes, I kept my old wires. I'm getting the new ones in a week or so. Also, I'm all about changing the brakes, but as for the oil, I think I'll just pay the fifty bucks and answer questions like "hey, is that a Z06?"
Pro
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 640
Likes: 0
From: Upper Marlboro MD
Re: For Everyone Looking At Changing Plugs... (1SGRET)
"Now add oil changes, and brakes to your list of easy mechanical things you can do and start spending that cash on other things."
:iagree:
I went from changing plugs to changing the torque converter and rearend. Nice to be able to do it yourself and feel that sense of accomplishment. :cheers: :cheers: :auto:
:iagree:
I went from changing plugs to changing the torque converter and rearend. Nice to be able to do it yourself and feel that sense of accomplishment. :cheers: :cheers: :auto:
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 1
From: Stockholm
Re: For Everyone Looking At Changing Plugs... (REDLYNER)
Removing the coilpack on the drivers side takes about 60 sec. Now you can remove all drivers side plugs without any problems such as scratched hands etc etc ..
:cheers:
:cheers:
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
From: Greenbelt Maryland
Re: For Everyone Looking At Changing Plugs... (REDLYNER)
RedLyner, et. al.,
How often do you recommend changing the spark plugs? I know the factory manual implies 100k, but obviously no one HERE is waiting that long... :lol:
How often do you recommend changing the spark plugs? I know the factory manual implies 100k, but obviously no one HERE is waiting that long... :lol:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,718
Likes: 2
From: Flower Mound TX
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: For Everyone Looking At Changing Plugs... (brrymnvette)
It took me half an hour to do plugs and wires and that was with having to gap the plugs. Quotes 2 hours? That's just crazy!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,126
Likes: 8
From: Dallas, TX
Re: For Everyone Looking At Changing Plugs... (REDLYNER)
Plug #7 "Myth": Impossible to get to; without proper tools you have to lift the engine; you have to go to Autozone and buy a $50 swivel socket wrench; blah blah blah. All of that is a myth. While it was not exactly easy to get to, a regular socket wrench with a 5/8 spark plug socket will do the whole job.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 312
Likes: 11
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: For Everyone Looking At Changing Plugs... (brrymnvette)
Anyone that can change #7 in less than 5 minutes is very "flexible". And then finish the rest and gap them in the remaining 25 minutes... smoking...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 20,054
Likes: 44
From: Swansea IL
Re: For Everyone Looking At Changing Plugs... (REDLYNER)
I just installed the new NGK TR55IX plugs. Took me an hour, 25 of which was spent on # 7 but I did get to it. With new MSD wires my 99 with 23,965 miles had a lumpy idle. No more. It idles like a Lexus. I've had to look at the tach to see if the car was idling its so smooth. And yes all my OEM plugs still had their pucks.
Tom
USAF Retired
Tom
USAF Retired