olie05 Posted July 5, 2005 Share Posted July 5, 2005 I'm starting to not want to do the v8 conversion anymore after changing the spark plugs on my friend's v6 camaro. It took me 2 1/2 hours! the most it would take anyone to change the plugs on an inline z would be about 20min. anyways, do you V8 guys have to pull the engine just to do simple maintenance? -Oliver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Battle Pope Posted July 5, 2005 Share Posted July 5, 2005 V8s can definitely be a trick to get to the plugs, even in a large-bay domestic. It doesn't help that the headers are right in the way, and in some cases the plugs are in at an angle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_hunt Posted July 5, 2005 Share Posted July 5, 2005 With the S&S full length headers and AFR heads on the 406 sbc in the z, I can change plugs in 20 min no problem and all I use is a 5/8" box end wrench! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Juday Posted July 5, 2005 Share Posted July 5, 2005 Straight plugs, blockhuggers, about 20 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b__sosick Posted July 5, 2005 Share Posted July 5, 2005 if it takes you any longer than 20 minutes to change the plugs on a l series then you have a LOT to worry about. haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Taylor Posted July 5, 2005 Share Posted July 5, 2005 Try changing the plugs on a lightning. Took me about 5 hrs first time I did it. Talk about a PITA. JT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b__sosick Posted July 5, 2005 Share Posted July 5, 2005 haha i bet and i wouldn't be surprised if your back hurt really bad afterwards from having to get up over that thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted July 5, 2005 Share Posted July 5, 2005 LT1 V8, straight plugs, block huggers, plug change in 15 - 20 minutes. While the engine was in the donor car, 45 minutes just to get them out. Changed plugs, wires, cap and rotor in my GMC Safari mini-van, V6, 2 hours. Billable shop time 4 hrs. Requires going in through the wheel wells to get at most of the plugs. The shop wanted to charge me $400.00 bucks parts and labor to do it, I said "I don't think so!!!!". Wheelman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted July 5, 2005 Share Posted July 5, 2005 LT1 V8' date=' straight plugs, block huggers, plug change in 15 - 20 minutes. While the engine was in the donor car, 45 minutes just to get them out. Changed plugs, wires, cap and rotor in my GMC Safari mini-van, V6, 2 hours. Billable shop time 4 hrs. Requires going in through the wheel wells to get at most of the plugs. The shop wanted to charge me $400.00 bucks parts and labor to do it, I said "I don't think so!!!!". Wheelman[/quote'] Oh man, going through the wheel wells is a good idea. Looking at the motor in my wife's Toyota minivan I just figured the plugs were going to last the life of the motor. But now I have a bad O2 sensor in the back bank and a smog check due. I am not sure how to even check the damn thing without cutting through the firewall. Actually it is not an O2 sensor but an "Air Fuel Ratio Sensor", i.e. a wideband O2. A $262 part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mitchd Posted July 5, 2005 Share Posted July 5, 2005 Tried pulling the plugs off a 351 cleveland in a 69 mustang mach 1 to do a compression check. Only option was to cut the inner fender or pull the motor. We were doing a compression check to see if we could attempt to get the car running a bit before the motor was yanked out for the rebuild, so we said f* it, and yanked it out anyways. But the plugs on the 383 in my K5 blazer.. real easy, I just climb up and sit in the engine bay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted July 5, 2005 Share Posted July 5, 2005 Well it would take me about 15-20 minutes to do my first 7 plugs then to get #7 plug out I have to loosen my drivers side header(custom header)(one of the draw backs of having headers on my car!) When I had a manifold (regular LT1 manifold) it wasnt an issue. So if I do all 8 it will probably take me about 2 hours with all the dinking around that I would have to do to get that 1 plug out! Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Battle Pope Posted July 5, 2005 Share Posted July 5, 2005 Well it would take me about 15-20 minutes to do my first 7 plugs then to get #7 plug out I have to loosen my drivers side header(custom header)(one of the draw backs of having headers on my car!) When I had a manifold (regular LT1 manifold) it wasnt an issue. So if I do all 8 it will probably take me about 2 hours with all the dinking around that I would have to do to get that 1 plug out! Guy This is exactly why I plan to stick with stock manifolds. The 460 will be wide enough and troublesome enough I won't need custom headers to make it harder... lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olie05 Posted July 6, 2005 Author Share Posted July 6, 2005 LT1 V8' date=' straight plugs, block huggers, plug change in 15 - 20 minutes. While the engine was in the donor car, 45 minutes just to get them out. Changed plugs, wires, cap and rotor in my GMC Safari mini-van, V6, 2 hours. Billable shop time 4 hrs. Requires going in through the wheel wells to get at most of the plugs. The shop wanted to charge me $400.00 bucks parts and labor to do it, I said "I don't think so!!!!". Wheelman[/quote'] So i guess its just the placement of the motors in F-bodies? Would an LS1 have the same ease you speak of with replacing spark plugs? -Oliver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 This is exactly why I plan to stick with stock manifolds. The 460 will be wide enough and troublesome enough I won't need custom headers to make it harder... lol Yeah but after all the time and money that I have invested in this car it just wouldnt be right having a set of ugly manifolds in the engine bay! Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Heh. Try a 90's 3.0l Ford Aerostar minivan. I helped a friend do them in his a few years ago, and did my boss's last summer. What a huge PITA!!! Go in through the 'doghouse' cover (inside) and hold your face just right as you snake your hands around evrything. Curse occasionaly when you drop the ratchet, or it pops off the plug socket.. remember to mark evrything in blood, ect. Took about 3 hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.