I used up all my curse words yesterday

[DeepCMark58A]

I was going to throw new spark plugs in the 351 in the Mastercraft figured quick little project. Who runs the coolant manifolds in a way that it is impossible to get a socket on the spark plugs? Took me a couple hours and beers but I got all 8 switched out.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have a half dozen spark plugs sockets I ground down over the years to fit in various areas.

I have busted the insulators a few times to get a short socket on the base for removal

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I have a half dozen spark plugs sockets I ground down over the years to fit in various areas.

I have busted the insulators a few times to get a short socket on the base for removal

Yeah broke 1 yesterday. You can wiggle a socket on the plugs but you can not get an extension on the socket it hits the manifold.

 

[rolmops]

It is my firm opinion that this would never have happened if a farmer would have designed that engine.

 

[cyclops222]

The first and original Chrysler Hemi Head engines. Required using a Metal hole saw to cut out a hole in the inner fender well of the car. To change sparkplugs.

 

[Lou C]

The Chevy Monza of the mid 70s required jacking the engine to get the last plug out.
Some brands of manifolds are bad like that where there is extra material on the bottom of the manifold for no real reason that gets in your way…

 

[dubs283]

I ground down a few sockets over the years, then I was introduced to a snap on brand sleeve socket that solved the issue of spark plug installation breakage issues when dealing with angled plug placement/manifold interference

That tool, along with a few others and a general attitude regarding boat repair that alleviates anger helps, a lot

Crummy access abounds, but the issues can be addressed. Sometimes via only one method, but they can be addressed

Keep swearing, it's therapeutic

 

[DeepCMark58A]

The Chevy Monza of the mid 70s required jacking the engine to get the last plug out.
Some brands of manifolds are bad like that where there is extra material on the bottom of the manifold for no real reason that gets in your way…

Dark days of early parenthood I had a chevy luma van you had to take apart motor mounts to tilt the engine forward to get to the back spark plugs.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I used a 5/8" wrench got into some yoga position and 1/8 rotation at a time.

 

[Mc Tool]

I had to remove the intake manifold and plenum to get the rear plugs out of my car .

 

[Pmt133]

I have to pull the intake on my truck to do 1 bank of plugs.

 

[ScottinAZ]

plenty of vehicles out there that are a PITA to change the plugs in.... Old 2nd gen Exploder I had, the #3 plug was right hard against the heater box, and no good way to get the bugger out... AFAIK it was still the OEM plug in there when it went to the junkyard... I wasnt gonna fight it....

the Small Block Fords are a PITA with an uptake type manifold regardless, the angle of the plugs is right into the runners.... Perhaps a wrench from below would be easier... I used to use a 5/8 offset ring spanner on an SBC with headers.... only damn way you could get them out.....

 

[froggy1150]

To do my boat I have a custom bent box end wrench. That's the only thing that fits

 

[cyclops222]

Why some dealers seem like crooks ?

 

[Lou C]

Chrysler Pentastar you have to remove the upper intake to do one bank of plugs. To do the plastic oil filter housing the whole intake has to come off.

 

[ltklein]

I ground down a few sockets over the years, then I was introduced to a snap on brand sleeve socket that solved the issue of spark plug installation breakage issues when dealing with angled plug placement/manifold interference

That tool, along with a few others and a general attitude regarding boat repair that alleviates anger helps, a lot

Crummy access abounds, but the issues can be addressed. Sometimes via only one method, but they can be addressed

Keep swearing, it's therapeutic

I did a search of Snap-On spark plug sockets and didn't see what you described. I did come up with this - is it similar?

I have a couple of uses for something like this.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Oh I used a few more this morning. How are kayaks stored when not in use? Not right side up on an inclined bank. I had to wrestle a half full kayak over to get the water out. My wife was standing there watching me (her kayak) My cursing could not be directed at the source of my conundrum, it was the kayaks fault.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I was looking at the first plug that I broke trying to get out, what if I took a cold chisel and broke the plugs off the the base of the ceramic? I could modify a 5/8" socket and have a 1/4 extension welded into the socket. If the plugs are tight should not be a problem with the threads, right?

 

[rolmops]

I cannot help you very much with the spark plugs, but it is easy to extend your curse word vocabulary. Just walk over to your friendly Russian neighbor and ask him. There are a great and juicy number of Russian curses that are just asking to be muttered under one's breath. I could mention a few here, but not only would my post be deleted, but quite possibly my account as well.