Oklahomaboy

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.

glbeauchamp

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!

neutron82

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

Oklahomaboy

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.

DetroitPlac

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.

Spaceme1117

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.

redzg

I had considerable luck with Lisle 51410 plug boot pliers

Oklahomaboy

Success is mine thanks to a lisle 51410 and a wonder bar for leverage. Thanks for the great advice. Love this board except the pop-ups.