1st LS1 Plugs and Wires Change

[wayblownout]

My apologies if this would have been better as supplemental to an existing thread.

Anyway, in getting her ready for the season, I decided to stop procrastinating and change the plugs and wires. I've read (and could see) what a pain it would be. However, I've always done my own on other cars so I wanted to take a shot. Besides, a few scraped knuckles is always worth saving a few hundred bucks.

It took me about 5 hours total. I was going slow and careful, and I probably removed a few things that I won't next time. I used the NGK TR55 and upgraded to MSD plug wires while I was at it. The OEM plugs are supposed to 100K mile plugs (which everyone knows is a load of crap), and mine had about 60K miles on 'em.

The difference was very noticeable. It was worth all the harsh language I used working on #8. That one really lives up to its reputation.

Well, it's not much of a victory story, but I thought I would share in case anyone else was contemplating going to a shop. It's certainly doable and was actually a bit easier than I thought it would be.

[Orange Terror]

How did you end up getting #8 Just out of curiosity?

My apologies if this would have been better as supplemental to an existing thread.

Anyway, in getting her ready for the season, I decided to stop procrastinating and change the plugs and wires. I've read (and could see) what a pain it would be. However, I've always done my own on other cars so I wanted to take a shot. Besides, a few scraped knuckles is always worth saving a few hundred bucks.

It took me about 5 hours total. I was going slow and careful, and I probably removed a few things that I won't next time. I used the NGK TR55 and upgraded to MSD plug wires while I was at it. The OEM plugs are supposed to 100K mile plugs (which everyone knows is a load of crap), and mine had about 60K miles on 'em.

The difference was very noticeable. It was worth all the harsh language I used working on #8. That one really lives up to its reputation.

Well, it's not much of a victory story, but I thought I would share in case anyone else was contemplating going to a shop. It's certainly doable and was actually a bit easier than I thought it would be.

[SS4Matt]

yeah the plugs are not hard at all on these cars, you just take the coils and the bracket they sit on off and it's a breeze from there...#8 isn't that hard really at all either, it is easier from the bottom, but i can get it just as easily from the top.....having little hands helps

[Orange Terror]

yeah the plugs are not hard at all on these cars, you just take the coils and the bracket they sit on off and it's a breeze from there...#8 isn't that hard really at all either, it is easier from the bottom, but i can get it just as easily from the top.....having little hands helps

How the hell do you get it from underneath? I did this last year and had to get help on #8 which Mike (Zspot98) came over and showed me how do it. He took the coil pack off that side. I guess you need really small hands cause when I went to do it from underneath before that cause I had heard that you could get them that way I saw no F***ing way you were gonna get to that plug from underneath. However, I've missed things before, lol.

[wayblownout]

How did you end up getting #8 Just out of curiosity?

I attacked #8 from the top. I had the coil pack rails removed, and I also moved the plastic air dam/seal piece from the passenger side - just had to be careful with all the plastic clips. I think that gave me a better angle, and just enough extra room to get the plug socket + 1" swivel + small ratchet + one arm down and in place. The plug was reluctant, but eventually broke loose.

I didn't bother trying from the bottom.

[iroc85blu]

i did my plugs and wires the same time as my headers. It was cake. I put the headers in first then did plugs and wires. But i also had a lift and tools readily available and removed the air and egr cause the headrs are race style so that freed up some room. If i have to do it again i bet about a half hour will knock it out.

[JoeliusZ28]

matt has headers. that might make it easier for him.

im going to do new wires on my car this season, im not looking forward to it. I did the plugs when i did the headers and was supposed to do the wires too but elite screwed me. Im probably going with an over-the-valve-cover setup even though i havent had a problem burning wires yet.

[SS4Matt]

How the hell do you get it from underneath?

my bad...yes i have long tubes, and any other F-body i've ever changed plugs on have had long tubes as well...maybe that's why? i'm not sure how easy it is with stock manifolds?

[DETROITMUSCLE]

Its not bad on stock manifolds if you know what your doing, you just have to climb into the engine bay with your left knee on the battery and lay on top of the engine to reach back and get it. Piece of cake now that I've done it a few times.

[c0ncEpT]

My car seems to idle a little rough after my LT's went on, Gonna order some TR-55's and MSD wires when I get some money

[Orange Terror]

my bad...yes i have long tubes, and any other F-body i've ever changed plugs on have had long tubes as well...maybe that's why? i'm not sure how easy it is with stock manifolds?

playing tricks on me man!! lol. Its not to bad now that I know how to do it. However, you aren't going to do it from underneath with manifolds.