I know this might seem like a dumb question for some of you guys who have taken your engines apart 10000 times.

Im changing my plugs tomorrow. Ive never done this before. I dont know what tools i need, how to take them out, how to put them in, things i need to do, etc. Can someone give me a very detailed instructions or point me in the right direction as far as a tutorial. No flamin please Just help if you dont mind. I'd normally just take it to a mechanic but i want to learn how to do this stuff myself.

Thank you very much.

 

Also, some tips so that i dont electricute myself or fk up my car

 

you will obviously need a ratchet, and a spark plug socket......oh yeah and some new spark plugs.

just pull the wires off, and and take the plugs out with the ratchet.......you will need a lot of patience!!!!!!! you also might want to try hitting some of the harder to reach ones from underneath the car. Make sure when you put the wires back on that none of them touch the manifolds or headers.

lots of beer and swearing usually help this process!

 

You would be the first person ever to get electricuted changing spark plugs.

 

Thank you man. Never heard of a spark plug socket. Guess discount auto parts would have one right? Any particular size? How long does it have to be? If i recall, my altima needed like a 10 incher until i decided not to do the plugs

Also, what are some common mistakes people make to fk it up?

 

Make sure you keep all of your plugwires in order. Dont cross any by putting them on the wrong sparkplugs. You should be able to get a sparkplug socket at any auto parts store. Lots of patience is required when changing the plugs on an LT1. The number 8 (rear one on the passenger side) is a bitch. I found it easier to get to by taking off te starter. Good luck!

 

For the #2 plug (riders front), you'll probably have to pull the alternator to get to it. It will take a 1/2" socket for the belt tensioner and a 17mm wrench for the nut that's on the bottom of of the alt. The rest are 1/2". You may also want to buy a 3/4" wrench that will fit over the back of the plug socket just in case you can't get a socket in there. Oh yes and don't forget to use LOTS of curse lubrication .

 

Holy crap, gonna be a blast

Thank you all for the tips

 

Last thing, ive been having some issues i thing might have something to do with a burnt plug wire. How do you tell if a plug wire is burnt and what kind of issues might it cause?

Also, how hard is it to change a fuel filter?

Thx,

 

Changing plugs in an LT 1 is a challenge, they are not easy to get to, but heres my advise, lower down the starter, and remove the alternater on the passenger side, that should take care of that side, on the drivers side you can get them from the bottom, if you have trouble getting the socket over an old plug, just break off the insulator, and use a box wrench. When installing the new ones, gap them and use anti sieze compound on the threads, you can use a box wrench to tighten them, but dont strip them, make sure they are threading in nice. The plug wires have heat shields on them, and can be difficult to remove, just take your time, one plug at a time twisting the heat shield from left to right, up and down until it comes free.
Good luck!

 

It will look burnt. Usually happens close or touching a heat source like the manifold. If you cant actually see the burn the car will miss when idling, Some will look for visible arcing when running it in low light.


fuel filter is not hard to change. It is near the driverside rear tire. You want to be careful when disconnecting, as the system is pressurized. (just so you dont get shot in the eye with fuel ) It helps to let the car sit. for a while. The filter has a tab that pulls out to release.

 

may want to pop open the gas gap before taking the filter off...you should have a fun day...as mentioned before, gap the plugs, don't trust the factory settings...you don't want to have to go back and do it again!

 

Have your girlfriend or mom on standby

I know I needed a set of small hands for the passenger side

Its tough, but doable.

Just be patient and get ready to be pissed off.

 

Plugs are not all that difficult. You will need a ratchet, spark plug socket (5/8"?) and a small extension, like 3" or so for some of the plugs.

The driver's side plugs are easiest to reach from the bottom. I just drive the car up onto ramps and crawl underneath. Like everyone else said, do one at a time. 1 & 3 are a cinch. For 5 & 7 you will have to crawl further back. 5 will require the small extension.

Passenger side plugs are tougher, especially if you have big forearms. I can do all of them from the top without removing the starter or the alternator, but it takes major contortion to get your hands to them. For #2 I feel for the plug with my right hand and first slide the socket over it, then attach the extension, and then the ratchet finally. 4 & 6 are much easier, can be done with or without the extension. #8 is waaaaaay in the back and I usually use my right hand to get to it jammed all the way down to my elbow between the manifold and fender! You could use just the socket and ratchet for this one, but it's easier to use a stubby 1" or so extension. Any longer than that and there won't be any space by the fender for the ratchet. I have also found it easier to crawl on top of the engine and use my left hand instead for a much more natural angle on the wrist.

Oh and of course, make sure you don't cross thread the plugs, take your time and hand tighten them before torquing to final specs.

Just did the fuel filter too. It's a five minute job. Just jack up the back end, take off the gas cap, put lots of rags under the filter to catch the gasoline rain and slowly undo the union nuts at the front end of the filter (can't remember what size they are). Once it starts letting fuel out, just let it run until no more spills then squeeze the plastic clip on the back of the filter and just pull it out from the fuel line. Make sure you don't tug too much on that fuel line - it's only plastic! For reinstalation, It's easier to thread the union nuts first and tighten them up before reinserting the other end on the filter into the fuel line.

 

All of the driver's side plugs can be reached from underneath the car. They are actually pretty easy. Passenger side was easiest for me to remove the alternator and the motor mount bolt on that side, then jack the engine up a little to give you clearance to the plugs from the top. The motor mount bolt is kind of a bugger to get out, but it makes it soooo much easier to get the plugs. And if you remove your alternator make sure to undo one of the battery cables first. It sucks to pull the ground wire off the alternator, drop it and have it weld itself to some other metal piece on the motor. (Trust me....It sucks!)