changing plugs on 95 z28, with stock manifolds.

got all of them changed except for number 2. i have it removed its just that i cant get it to go in. I tried different angles and no go. its not the plug because i tried a different one that was already installed.

i was trying this one thing for about 3 -4 hours, i decided to leave at 12pm...

has anyone else had a problem like this, anyone know what i can do to get this to work?

yes the alternator is removed.

thanks

 

You might try taking the rubber elbow off the AIR pipe and carefully bending the pipe out of the way. Just make sure you have not crossthreaded the head. It's easy to do. Start the plug by hand. Use a short piece of 3/8 rubber hose on the end of the plug as an "extension" if needed.

 

i removed the rubber part already, i will try bending the tube once i get back.

im getting ready to go over there and once im there i have no internet, so if anyone has any quick tips please post them quick.

and all the searching ive done on spark plug changing just says to remove the alternator for plug 2.

one thing i was thinking about is when i had to remove the plug i had to put one of the plug wires on top of the socket, i tried that last night when putting it in but i dont know maybe i didnt do it right, anything about this i should know?

edit - nm im gone...

thanks

 

I can't remember if I put a socket over mine to hand-start it or not. It essentially involved laying on the car and contorting my arm until it felt like it would break, then feeling for the hole with my middle finger and slipping the plug in where my finger had been.

It's a major PITA, but you can do it, just don't lose patience

 

well i have no problem with getting the plug to where its supposed to be, but once i start twisiting it, it will not take hold on the threads.

i now have about 5 hours on this one plug alone, it took 25 minutes to get the drivers side, 45 minutes for the one above the starter and 1 hour for the other two middle ones on the passenger side and then 5 hours in counting for the #2 plug.

i looked at the back of the other head (their the same right, just fliped around) and it has that plug pointing torwards the center of the block. So i tried doing it from all angles like that and no catch yet.

thanks for help

edit:

would it be worth it to pull the heads for this?

And some of the spark plugs have some black stuff on the top, not the part that is inside the head , the part that sticks out but the plug wire boot doesnt cover. It has a little black buildup and some even had black liquid or oil or something. This is because of bad exhaust manifold gaskets right?

 

You can also try using a mirror to help you line it up. There just isn't much room.

 

lining up is not a problem, the problem is when its lined up, it wont screw in.

 

almost sounds like it mite be crossed threaded or stripped mite try a spark plug tap mite be able to save it

 

wont that put metal shavings into the combustion chamber?

and now it has been attempted by me and my brother so im not just physco or something....

 

have you tried putting a peice of rubber hose over the boot end and using that to screw it in to the head?? works awesome...

 

no, but i can get it there but it just wont enter the threads, i can twist all i want and it does nothing..., almost like maybe the outer thread just rounded off and ... well sealed itself or something but i know that the plug does not want to enter the threads.

if i got a m10 tap(spark plug size?) and just twisted it to try to repair the first two threads, then vacummed the hole out to remove shavings would that help?

 

you are turning the plug the correct way, right? (personal exp.)

try a mirror and look in the hole, see how the threads look, look at the old plug, how are the threads?

and the thread of the spark plugs is 14mm, there is a special thread restoring tool for plug holes that goes all the way in, you turn in a bolt on the end, the other end expands, then you screw it out, with all the debris coming out with it, look around if you need it, you might need to buy one from MAC/Snap-On, try borrowing one from local mechanics before buying

 

thats somthing like what i was just looking into. i was looking at thread chasers, but what your talking about sounds better.

do you know the name of the tool, maybe i can get my dad to borrow one from his dealership he works at.???

i need this fixed as fast as possible, so i was thinking about going to lowes or whatever and looking for a tap, but if i have to i will wait till tomorow.

and about my exhaust gasket, its broke if stuff is leaking all over the tops of the plugs right.?

thanks for all the help!

 

NAPA sells those tools that thread from the inside-out. You may have to take the exhaust manifold off so you can see what you are doing. A thread chaser might work, too, if you put some grease on the end of it to catch the shavings. You can also crank the engine with the plug out to blow any chips away.

 

my dad insists on going over in the morning to get it in thinking it will take him 2 seconds and it will be in, but after that i will go to autozone and napa and see if i can find it.

Does anyone know how much it will cost? and does anyone know the exact name of it?

thanks much!!!