Changing firewall spark plugs

REDse86 · Post by **REDse86** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:08 pm

Ok so I thought changing the plugs would be the easiest thing to do on this car. WRONG very wrong. fronts- good, those back three are kicking my butt. Is there something I missed because the socket doesnt seem to get on the plug. I have all of the intake off so I thought it would be easy. Its a 86 SE. nothing seems to be in the way. HELP ive searched the forums by the way.

Shaun41178(2) · Post by **Shaun41178(2)** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:10 pm

flex head wratchet? Thats what I use, can do the back 3 out and in in less then 10 minutes.

REDse86 · Post by **REDse86** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:59 pm

well its not the ratchet its getting the socket on the plug.

p8ntman442 · Post by **p8ntman442** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:49 am

ya just put the socket on the plug, and then put the extension and ratchet on the socket. Its not rocket science.

crzyone · Post by **crzyone** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 4:58 pm

I do not envy your forarms. You will skin them to hell getting those damn rear plugs.

The Dark Side of Will · Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:53 pm

Remove the rear cradle bolts and drop the back of the cradle a few inches with a thin jack.

TrotFox · Post by **TrotFox** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:09 pm

Got a skinny+tall friend? I'm 6'2" 200# and have no issues changing the front plugs... other than it being a bit of work. : ]

Red 5spd Formula
Trot, the lanky, fox...

REDse86 · Post by **REDse86** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:37 pm

well i ended up taking a mirror and taping it to a wiring harness so I can see the plugs. I found out by searching some forums that crud builds up around the plugs which prevented me from getting the socket on. So I got those changed.

My new problem (i know I'm being annoying) is that when I got the car the guy was going to put new plug wires on it but he never did so now I'm left with 6 plug wires with no idea where to plug them into the distributor.

I have searched on Old Europe, here and Google. I also have access to Mitchell on demand and they could not help me. Can anyone help me out with a diagram or something to follow?

Its a 86 SE. Thanks again!

Weponhead · Post by **Weponhead** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 4:29 pm

yea those back 3 get some nasty shit in em, mine always are a pain to get off, gotta get out a pick and the blow gun. lay out your plug wires, shortest to longest and go to town.. semi obvious to go closest to the dizzy to farthest. also the tiny one goes to the ign module.

Dirty Sanchez · Post by **Dirty Sanchez** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:09 pm

Does this help? The dot on the distributor is for wire number 1. You just attach them in the firing order 1-2-3-4-5-6 to the proper cylinders.

REDse86 · Post by **REDse86** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:18 pm

So I edited the picture to how I think it goes

is this correct?

thanks for the quick help and support!

The Dark Side of Will · Sun Jan 07, 2007 9:43 pm

If you're distributor hasn't been removed from the engine, then it should be like that. Otherwise, you'll have to reindex the dizzy to get it right. See this thread for procedure: phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=5050&highlight=di ... or+reindex

Pyrthian · Post by **Pyrthian** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:32 am

The Dark Side of Will wrote:Remove the rear cradle bolts and drop the back of the cradle a few inches with a thin jack.

yes, another thing that helps is removing the decklid

p8ntman442 · Post by **p8ntman442** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:56 am

you guys are fucking crazy. I can change all my plugs in under an hour.

Remove decklid?
Lower cradle?

WTF?

do you guys all have fastbacks? Mine is a notchie and no problems. Does a fastback make it that much harder?

Tinton · Post by **Tinton** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:00 pm

I haven't noticed it being harder on the fastback (got both).

But, both of my cars have the weatherstrip on the decklid. You either have to remove the weatherstrip or remove the decklid. Removing the decklid is EASY, 4 bolts and its off, but make sure to mark it so you won't have to re-align it. With the decklid off you can stand in the trunk, shine a light on the front of the motor, and you can almost see the plugs. That's all you need, I changed the plugs on my '86 that looked like they hadn't been changed in 10 years. Just make sure not to cross-thread the new ones.

Running the spark plug wires is easy too. A diagram has already been posted, but the Haynes manual (and probably any others too) have a diagram and instructions.