Changing Spark Plugs

[DMECMAnderson]

OK I've got a pretty good tool set, but the spark plug in the back (closest to the firewall) appears to be a significant challenge to get a socket with a socket wrench. Either my extensions are too long or too short. What's the trick?

[So Cal Mark]

a swivel socket is the trick, make sure you start the new on by hand! 4 is the most common plug to find crossthreaded. And make sure you use anti-seize on the threads.

[mbouse]

i use a universal joint for my sockets....same thing as a swivel socket but another separate piece.

that and a standard spark plug socket and a short extension.

DO NOT get in a hurry. screwing up the threads for your spark plugs is a really difficult thing to recover from.

and, don't forget to used some compressed air to blow out the accumulated garbage that has fallen down into that cavity BEFORE you remove the spark plug.

[DMECMAnderson]

Thanks for the assist. One trip to Sears, and I've swapped the plugs!

[Danno]

i use a universal joint for my sockets....same thing as a swivel socket but another separate piece.

funny that this topic just came up because about three days ago I did a swap of my plugs and had to buy a little three pack of these u-joints in different sizes, it was cheap, like 6 bucks or something, but made the job immensely easier!

[zappi]

Snap-on has a really nice universal joint socket for plugs. The extension is built right in.

[racydave]

Sooner or later if youre a toolhead, you will have a set of swivel sockets in short and in long, metric and standard. I preferr a impact swivel plug socket, but you need alot of options. The real short extensions are also helpfull. Then to top it off, a long swivel ratchet is nice sometimes. A helpful tip to install plugs is to put a short piece of vaccum hose on the end to help screw it in. Always blow out the debris around the plugs before removal.

[mdrburchette]

Always blow out the debris around the plugs before removal.

Good idea. I replaced the plugs in my 72 before taking it to Texas and was upset to find the #1 plug was saturated in oil. I thought for sure my newly rebuilt engine had major issues until I remembered missing the oil fill hole when pouring oil in during an oil change. Of course, blowing out that debris would have caused a big mess!

[Hvnfn]

Hey All,

While changing the plugs, I found that plug #4 is crossthreaded and does not go all the way in... And I am not willing to start forcing it in any further and stripping out the hole... somehow it doesnst SEEM to affect the running of the car, but I imagine it has to be since it isnt ALL the way in... How does one recover from a crossthreaded plug???!!!??

[zappi]

There are a couple of ways of doing tihis but you would need some special tools to do the job. Remove the head, bring it to a machine shop and have the spark plug hole drilled straight. Unfortunately now the hole is larger, so you would need to use a heli-coil to repair that hole. ( A heli-coil is simply a threaded coil that screws in to a hole) OR bring it to a trusted mechanic who can do the job inplace by using one of these special tools. Basically air is blown into the paired cylinder while the hole is being drilled. This prevents metal filings from falling into the cylinder.

Hope this help a little. Keep us posted.

[racydave]

Since you are up against the wall already,( and will probably end up installing a heli-coil type replacment) maybe the threads could be cleaned up by using the original size tap? And another new spark plug. Good luck!

[Topless]

It's my understanding that universal i.e. swivel sockets alter the torque measurement, so strictly speaking you can't just torque it down like the other spark plugs.

There is a discussion over at mirafiori about spark plug torque that is worth reading. The old rule of finger tight plus 1/2 turn is proposed by better mechanics than myself: https://www.mirafiori.com/forum/viewtop ... lug+torque