Cross threaded spark plug

Hipster · Dec 30, 2021

If you think putting plugs in a chevy smallblock in a Gmt400 engine compartment you can damn sit your arse in is PITA, try a Mopar 440 with headers shoehorned in a Dart or Duster. A few have to come out the bottom side with an open end wrench 1/16 flat at a time and you have to fingerdiddle those ones back in between your index and middle finger. It'll take most of a Saturday. LOL

Ditto on the brake clean.

Schurkey · Dec 30, 2021

Or a small-block in a '75-ish Monza, where you're supposed to unbolt the motor mount and jack one side of the engine up to change the plugs.

Pinger · Dec 30, 2021

HotWheelsBurban said:
. One of the tools was a neoprene vinyl holder for plugs that was shaped to go snugly around the insulator. A piece of rubber fuel line the right size will also work. I've used both, but I think when I replaced the Burb's plugs in April, I just put them in the socket with the short extension on it. I use anti seize, and just try to "feel" how it goes into the head.

someotherguy said:
The fuel line trick is good; I've always just depended on an old spark plug wire boot - and thread 'em in by hand, nice and easy.

Richard

Another vote for the fuel line (though mine is a bit of hose from a battery air/tyre compressor that fits on the metal conductor of the plug) trick.
I kinda have to as I remove the rubber insert inside plug sockets. A trick I was taught as a kid to prevent the rubber 'leaning' on the porcelain and cracking it.

HeavyAsAChevy · Dec 30, 2021

thinger2 said:
Yep. I always hose the crap out of them with brakcleen before I pull them just so crud doesnt get in the hole or the socket.
And a little dab of anti sieze.
There are three hatefull points on a small block chevy.
The starter, the distributor, and the friggen peanut plugs.

Is the starter that bad? I’ve done mine twice because the first one I bought went bad. It took me 20min laying in the driveway without even jacking the truck up at all.

HotWheelsBurban · Dec 30, 2021

I've done the starter R&R on my Burb (5.7 2wd) a couple times by hopping it on the curb. Gave just enough room for me to slide under it, and the truck was parked on the street in front of my apartment so I didn't want to jack it up. But if it was a big block or 4wd it wouldn't have been that easy. I noticed on the 2006 Denali 6.0 AWD, no room at all to get around and to the starter.

thegawd · Dec 30, 2021

sounds like mopar never changed their ways. I could easily change the front 3 spark plugs in our old POS sebring but in order to get to the back 3 you needed to remove a couple motor mounts and lift the engine partially out.

Screw it, I just returned the new sparkplugs and moved on.

Dariusz Salomon · Dec 30, 2021

Same here-I park one side on the kerb and I can do starter without jackin the truck-and I got side steps and it's 4x4

GoToGuy · Dec 30, 2021

I have a couple plug starters i got from MAC years ago. Looks like hose with a little larger end to hold. Since such a small diameter to hold an start thread if there is any resistence you feel it right away, wait, backup restart, yep thats smoother kind of thing.

Frank Enstein · Dec 30, 2021

The second worst plugs I did was a 68 Firebird v8 with A/C. Passenger side 3 from the bottom and 1 through the passenger fender after removing the tire.
The worst? Ford Aerostar. Farthest back driver side is a F#@#^&g nightmare.

Schurkey · Dec 30, 2021

Three inches of vacuum hose does the same job, for about twenty-five cents in rubber tubing. Stretch the vacuum hose over the metal nipple on the end of the spark plug. Turn the other end of the tubing to start the plug. The hose won't transmit enough torque to screw-up the threads if it's not threading-in nicely.

Yeah, it works like all those tools...I hate 'em all. I want to feel the plug screw in directly with my fingers if possible. If not possible, I just use the plug socket and whatever extensions, U-Joints, etc. are needed. I never, ever use an air ratchet until I know the plug is started successfully.

Cross threaded spark plug

Hipster

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