My '96 SS had 85K miles on the origional plugs so I thought it would be a good idea to do a complete tuneup with the gas prices going up! I was getting tired of the 11 miles a gallon in the city. Anyhow, I started last night after I drove home from college at about 11 or so.

It was my first time ever to change LT1 spark plugs with the stock manifolds and it took me only 4 hours! Granted I know there are some who have done it quicker but I was expecting a weekend job here. I was very calm and collective, sat and thought about how to tackle each plug after I found where it was (LOL!). I am proud to say I did NOT get pissed once the entire time. Not to mention I am not a small guy either (6'1" 210) so it was a squeeze sometimes.

But I have a couple of questions. I gapped them to .035, which is what the chiltons book said the stock gapping was. Is this correct?

Second, I have an exhaust leak, that luckily I found last night. One of the manifold bolts was so loose that I was turning it with my hand. Do I need to replace the gasket or just tighten the bolts down? I had to drop my y-pipe in the process, so do I need to replace those gaskets too?

Thanks guys! I am in such a great mood today.

 

The stock gap is .05.

 

what was your list of tools that you used?

 

Very impressive man are you studying to become a shrink or something not mad once thts got to be a record.As far as the losse bolt is concened just tighten it up should stop the leak.If not headers in manifolds out.

 

The correct spark plug gap for stock plugs is 0.050". It should be listed on the emissions sticker under the hood.
Pretty good time on the spark plugs, I know that the first time for me probably took about that long, but I got a lot more pissed than you apparently.
As far as the manifold bolt goes, more than likely all you will need to do is tighten it down. The gaskets for the manifolds are made out of a metal composite, so they do not easily break. As long as your car hasn't been backfiring, I wouldn't be worried about blowing the gasket material out.
From what I understand and remember from replacing my oil pan gasket, there are no gaskets on the y-pipe. I have a 94 Z-28, but I wouldn't imagine that there would be any gaskets on the y-pipe of the 95 SS either, but I could be wrong.

 

Bummer to find you did all that work and got the wrong info on the plug gap.

You should be ok on the manifold gasket as long as tightening it up stopped the leak.

 

Whew, luckily I did not put my y-pipe and alternator back on before you guys told me that the stock gap was 0.050. I did take them all out again and regap them. So I guess I changed my plugs twice. As far as tools go, I just used regular hand tools. I honestly did not get pissed once the entire time. I guess I have good patientce.

My car started right up and runs so much smoother, but my engine is smoking from the back, so I think is burning a plug wire. I'll let you know!

 

There is no '95 Super Sport. It started back in '96.

 

I finally got to where I can do my plugs in about 1 1/2 hours. Changing plugs every 10-15k miles will make you get really good at it. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the #6 plug and the fact that I have to dismantle the blower intake tube.

 

it took me about 2 minutes to take my plugs out


granted, the heads were a work bench when it was done

 

Sorry, mistype.

 

Better than me, first time i did it on the camaro I think i broke 3 or 4 of them taking them out . Not to mention hitting my hands on things and being mad. I took my time putting them back in. Didn't want to have to do it but once

 

I did my plugs last week during break, and I didnt remove anything, has anyone done it that way? 2 on the passenger side were tricky but eventually my friend and I got them all. No more miss or pre-rev-stumble

-Dustin-

 

It took me about the same time when I first did it. Last time was less than two hours.

I don't remove anything; I do the rear two on passenger side from underneath (skinny arms go between Y-pipe and starter).

It is nice doing it yourself, and not getting angry! Good job!

 

Yeah you can do it by not taking stuff off, Thats how I did it. Not too hard. #2 is a PITA, but the rest aren't bad. I did all my pass side from the top.