Changing spark plugs...

Well tommorow ive decided that im goig to change my spark plugs b/c they need to be changed real bad, and ive heard that its a bitch to change them though. I have a 98 Firebird (V6) so how hard would this be to do? How much time would this take to do also? Is it worth taking the time to do it or should i go somewhere and have them do it? Id really like to do it myself if i could, i hate taking my car places to get stuff done to it when i could have done it myself.

So does anyone have any help they can give me when i do this? Whats the best way to get the plugs out and everything? And is there any special tools ill need to get them out?

It's really not that hard, I don't know how much room there is for a V6.. but probably a bit more then a V8 so you shouldn't really have too much to worry about.
What you will probably need is a spark plug socket, a ratchet and a wrench.
For my spark plug socket you can either turn the socket with a ratchet or a 5/8" wrench.

Do you have to go under the car to get to them or can you go from the top?

I changed them on my thirdgen, along with a friend...this is probably one of two times you'll enjoy having a V6 (the other is when you go to the gas station :p), since you only have 6 to change.

It's mostly grunt work really, It's not that hard. The first one is always the hardest...since you don't know what you're doing. :p On mine, we had to put something between the plug and the suction thingy (see how good I am with technical terms? ;)) to release the suction a bit, so we could get it out...

Yes you do have to get under the car for some of them, or at least I did. Make sure you have a spark plug socket for your ratchet, that makes it much easier.

Try and gap them if you can, too...we did't have the tools, so we didnt bother.

Do you have to go under the car to get to them or can you go from the top?

I replaced the spark plugs & wires on my son's 93 Camaro V6 3.4 about a year ago, very straight forward, all 6 from top. I did use a swivel spark plug socket, but I use that socket anytime I change plugs, I don't remember if it was really necessary.

I change 1 plug wire at a time, running the new one in the same location and making sure the convaluted tubing was protecting the wire as designed.

The sparkplugs were a experience.

I changed #1 and #2 from the top.

I put the socket on the plug from the bottom and ratcheted them out from the top on #3 and #4 (especially difficult to get to).

I changed #5 and #6 from the bottom and thought they were the easiest to do.

I also suggest verifying the plug gap.

Your plug gap should be .060

Good luck!

:cool:

alright this sh!ts pissing me off...i got the first one on the drivers side off but i cant figure out how the hell to get to the other ones. Haha can someone like give me a step-by-step thing on what the best way is to get to each of the plugs? I have everything i need, i just dont see how you can get to them, and its pissing me off. Im gonna get this done somehow, im not taking it anywhere, ill spend all day tommorow doing it if i have to just to get it done.

Is it easier if i just got from the bottom to get ALL of them? Because i dont see how to get them from the top. Hell, i dont see half the plugs from the top. :mad: :cry: :death:

Any help will be appreciated. This is a lot harder than i thought, i cant even find some of them.

Have you got them changed yet?

:cool:

You might have to get under the car for the other ones. Just a guess, I don't really know anything about the 3.8 V6.