Spark plug help

[thasty]

Im not the most mechanically inclined person, but i consider myself somewhat competent, with that being said, I CANT GET MY PLUG WIRES OFF! I dont want to just yank them off with pliers, unless thats what it takes, am i doing something wrong?

 

Also, what kind of plugs and wires should i get? autolites?

 

Thanks bros

[Robby1870]

twist and pull. Get AC Delco plugs.....nothing else will suffice.

[19Cutlass94]

Agreed, Delco plugs are the best. If you wanted to, you can pick up yourself a pair of well I call em wire pullers, cuz there like pliers, but the ends fit the boots of the wire and you pull em off with that, no effort required. I wish I could jus remember the name.......

[1990lumina]

Yeah, just twist and pull...don't smash your hand into the firewall when it comes off though

 

Get AC Delco wires as well, seems as though they are the only plugs/wires that will work good with our cars.

 

Could also check out the AC Delco RapidFires I believe they are called. I dunno if they will help to much, but seeing as how you are a Z34, they might :D

 

Good luck

[thasty]

Thanks bros,

 

One last question, how do i get to the rear plugs? Do i take the cover thing (sorry i dont know what its called) to get to the rear 3 plugs? Oh and does the car recommend platinum or regular?

 

Any recommendations on the brand of plug wires?

 

the car is a 95 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34 and on an extreme budget (in college) I just sold my bike and MR2.. i know a jap car... and bought this off my freind so i can commute to school. Ive already done so much to it just need to finish this up cuz its hesitating a bit.

 

Thanks again.

Nate

[1990lumina]

To get to the rear plugs (unless you have small hands) you have to disconnect the front dog bones I believe, and then carefully tilt the engine forward to access the back plugs.

 

I'd recommend just getting the delco wires as well. Other brands of wires and plugs don't seem to like the "waste spark system" I think it is called and wear out quite fast.

[19Cutlass94]

I duno alot of people say to remove the dogbones to get to the rear plugs. I didnt need do, maybe its just me but I think theres plenty of room back there for a rachet and a small extension to get the plugs out. My dad did that before and hes not exactly a small guy.

[1990lumina]

Guess it depends on the engine and vehicle. On my car it seems like the engine is just inchs away from the firewall. I can barely see the plugs, let alone get hands in there with a ratchet and plug socket.

 

Anyway, best of luck man. If you do a search you might be able to find where someone disconnected the dog bones, then tied the engine to another car and pulled the engine forward with another car. I dunno why I thought able that, but it was funny to see lol.

[Justin]

You can't really tilt the 3.4 forward much if at all. The 2.8 and 3.1 are designed to be tilted forward for service, but the 3.4 is way too big to be moved at all. I'm not 100% sure about this at all, but I believe the later 3.4s could be done without removing the upper plenum, someone correct me if I'm wrong? Look around back there for some T handle plastic things on your rear plug wires and follow them down to the rear plugs. Have lots of extensions...

[EurosportZ34]

i tried to get to the back three plugs and i finally gave up after cusing up a storm. i finally brought my Z34 to the shop to get its plugs/wires changed. as for what kind to get, i'd strongly recommend the AC Delco RapidFires plugs and Magnecor KV85 plug wires. the plugs will run you about $30 and the wires will run you about $125ish depending on were you get them from.

[thasty]

Damn, i thought american cars were supposed to be easy to work on?

 

What if i just do the bottom three? see i know one of his injectors went a while back and they fixed it, the back three plugs have newer plug wires but the front are a different color, red, and old looking. Whaddya think?

 

Thanks again for all the help, u guys are extremely helpful.

[Robby1870]

You're better off doing all 6. The previous owner of my STE only did the front 3 and when I went to change the back three after getting some serious hesitation under load, I could barely get them off. THey had rusted on. Plus, I almost stripped the threads in the head with those rusted plugs not wanting to come out. It just makes sense to replace them, however hard it might be.

[thasty]

Damn, well if anyone knows for sure the best way to get the rear 3 plugs id appreciate it. It seems almost impossible.

[digitaloutsider]

Guess it depends on the engine and vehicle. On my car it seems like the engine is just inchs away from the firewall. I can barely see the plugs, let alone get hands in there with a ratchet and plug socket.

YOU HAVE A 3.1

[z284pwr]

the back three are easy to get to with no alternator in the way.....3 bolts, 2 wires, and a belt, its like a 10 min job max to take it off and make life a lot easier, just make sure to tape up the big red wire so you don't ground it and cause a sparks fest....

[GP1138]

the back three are easy to get to with no alternator in the way.....3 bolts, 2 wires, and a belt, its like a 10 min job max to take it off and make life a lot easier, just make sure to tape up the big red wire so you don't ground it and cause a sparks fest....

 

He has a 3.4 DOHC. The alternator is not a 10 minute job. And it has nothing to do with replacing spark plugs in his case.

 

Good advice for 3.1 owners, though.

[joey b]

Remove the weather stripping and if needed notch the metal, but you might not have to. It is a tight squeeze, but you don't have to remove the plenum. I think the montes have more clearance, so that makes it even easier if such is the case. You might want to undo the front dogbone mount. That may give you another 1/2 inch, not much but enough.