How long does it take YOU to change your spark plugs?
10-08-2004, 05:15 AM
#31
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 40
Re: How long does it take YOU to change your spark plugs?
Before I forget - find your local police or medical supply company and look for kevlar hand protection. They are like weird gloves, but they were designed to decrease the chance of needlesticks for professionals. They can protect those knuckles!
Oh, you wonder why kevlar gloves? You can save 99% of the skin on your hands while changing the plugs ( your forearms are still road rash city, however )!
Oh, you wonder why kevlar gloves? You can save 99% of the skin on your hands while changing the plugs ( your forearms are still road rash city, however )!
10-08-2004, 06:11 AM
#32
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 249
Re: How long does it take YOU to change your spark plugs?
With stock manifolds it is a pain in the ***. The plugs aren't near as bad as doing wires too though. Just the plugs aren't that bad. The way the wires are routed on a stock LT1 is just retarded though. That makes it really hard and a good bit of work.
With long tubes, I changed all my plugs in 30 minutes. Did everyone from the bottom with a spark plug socket and a wrench. This was just plugs though and not wires.
Good luck!
With long tubes, I changed all my plugs in 30 minutes. Did everyone from the bottom with a spark plug socket and a wrench. This was just plugs though and not wires.
Good luck!
10-08-2004, 08:42 AM
#34
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Middle of Kansas
Posts: 2,688
Re: How long does it take YOU to change your spark plugs?
Originally Posted by sallmon
Have to say, I'd like to find the engineers who designed this engine and kick their *** from one side of Michigan to the other side of Kansas.
10-08-2004, 09:38 AM
#36
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Littlestown, PA
Posts: 1,903
Re: How long does it take YOU to change your spark plugs?
It took me 3-4 hours, taking breaks etc to get the feeling back into my hands. I love Lingenfelters stuff, but his shorty 1 3/4 " headers don't help matters at all. Next time I'll let my 3 year old put the socket on the plugs and let my 5 year old turn the wrench...I'll stay inside and watch Spongebob...
10-08-2004, 11:15 AM
#37
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 40
Re: How long does it take YOU to change your spark plugs?
OOPS!!! I am so sorry, Outsider IROC-Z!
Perhaps we could ship their butts off to Iraq so they can design new power plants or something!
At any rate, I did not intend to demean the fine folks of Kansas!
Perhaps we could ship their butts off to Iraq so they can design new power plants or something!
At any rate, I did not intend to demean the fine folks of Kansas!
10-09-2004, 06:23 PM
#40
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Middle Tennessee
Posts: 1,831
Re: How long does it take YOU to change your spark plugs?
I have muscular dystrophy and my arms don't open all the way. They are stuch at approx 90*.
Given that, I pulled my car on ramps the first time.
I did the driver's side plugs and wires on one day (front two from top and back two from bottom). There is a metal bracket just below where the head bolts to the block that routes the back two plug wires. That bracket gave me fits because it was difficult to see and get to with a wrench.
On the 2nd day, I got all but the back passenger side plug out from up top, and the wires were a pain there as well. Dropping the starter was required and the cat on that side made it a pain. Laying across the top of the engine from the driver's side toward the passenger side made reaching things MUCH easier! The hardest part on this side is the wire routing on the alternator bracket.
This was with the stock manifolds.
Now that I have my Hooker LT headers in, I can do most if not all of the plugs from the top in just an hour or so if I REALLY hustle. I prefer to take my time and make sure it's all properly done so I typically spend about 4 hours swapping plugs AND wires out.
Good luck, if I can do it, ANYONE can...
Given that, I pulled my car on ramps the first time.
I did the driver's side plugs and wires on one day (front two from top and back two from bottom). There is a metal bracket just below where the head bolts to the block that routes the back two plug wires. That bracket gave me fits because it was difficult to see and get to with a wrench.
On the 2nd day, I got all but the back passenger side plug out from up top, and the wires were a pain there as well. Dropping the starter was required and the cat on that side made it a pain. Laying across the top of the engine from the driver's side toward the passenger side made reaching things MUCH easier! The hardest part on this side is the wire routing on the alternator bracket.
This was with the stock manifolds.
Now that I have my Hooker LT headers in, I can do most if not all of the plugs from the top in just an hour or so if I REALLY hustle. I prefer to take my time and make sure it's all properly done so I typically spend about 4 hours swapping plugs AND wires out.
Good luck, if I can do it, ANYONE can...
10-10-2004, 08:40 AM
#42
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 40
Re: How long does it take YOU to change your spark plugs?
Ummm - LT1camaroman93 --
How about you change the plugs in my 95 Z28 (stock) and I'll give you a hundred bucks?
The only thing worse than the plugs is the plugs and wires!
How about you change the plugs in my 95 Z28 (stock) and I'll give you a hundred bucks?
The only thing worse than the plugs is the plugs and wires!
10-10-2004, 11:33 AM
#43
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Dobson, NC
Posts: 1,064
Re: How long does it take YOU to change your spark plugs?
Being lanky is the key. i have very long and very skinny arms. Stock manifolds 25-30 mins did them all from the top. The only slow down is #2 the alternator has to come out. tools needed spark plug socket and 3/4 wrench, and a 5/8 wrench, and a couple extensions. Now the slp shortys takes alot longer. oh well theres a sacrifice to everything right?
10-10-2004, 11:42 AM
#44
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Middle of Kansas
Posts: 2,688
Re: How long does it take YOU to change your spark plugs?
Originally Posted by sallmon
OOPS!!! I am so sorry, Outsider IROC-Z!
Perhaps we could ship their butts off to Iraq so they can design new power plants or something!
At any rate, I did not intend to demean the fine folks of Kansas!
Perhaps we could ship their butts off to Iraq so they can design new power plants or something!
At any rate, I did not intend to demean the fine folks of Kansas!
Iraq would be a good place for them.
10-10-2004, 02:09 PM
#45
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 195
Re: How long does it take YOU to change your spark plugs?
Just got them done last night. My 19 year old friend (I'm 20) who's been doing most of my work so far for me did em. Took the car out to another friend's garage who has a lift. Put it on the lift. (After driving it on blocks, as the lift wouldn't go low enough to reach under the car)
My friend managed to put em in in under 2 hours. Got pretty much all of em from underneath, except for the 2 close to the alternator. Stock manifolds.
He does have long lanky arms, and the shop had some excellent tools.
Bad news? The plugs that were in there were fine. Good news, the plugs looked excellent, I've got myself a good running engine
The plugs cost me about 100$ CDN. Got the+4's, hopefully I don't experience any issues some other's have had with them.
My friend managed to put em in in under 2 hours. Got pretty much all of em from underneath, except for the 2 close to the alternator. Stock manifolds.
He does have long lanky arms, and the shop had some excellent tools.
Bad news? The plugs that were in there were fine. Good news, the plugs looked excellent, I've got myself a good running engine
The plugs cost me about 100$ CDN. Got the+4's, hopefully I don't experience any issues some other's have had with them.