99 LS 4.3L W - Creative ways to remove #3 sparkplug on Drivers side

[TonyMazz]

How are some of the ways you folks have successfully removed the #3 spark plug on the drivers side.....

Seems with the steering shaft there, a socket, extension and through the wheel well is the only way I can think of, but still seem to have problems with the angle, clearance etc.

How the heck to get the plug out....????

[blazee]

The shaft can easily be moved in a couple minutes, allowing you to change it with any tool combination you choose. There is a thread abou this in the S10 forum right now, there seem to be a lot of ways to do it: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=254472

[ricksza]

A swivel spark plug socket with a long extension through the wheel well works best. You could also try to break the plug loose with a wrench on the hex end of the socket.

[TonyMazz]

Originally Posted by blazee

The shaft can easily be moved in a couple minutes, allowing you to change it with any tool combination you choose. There is a thread abou this in the S10 forum right now, there seem to be a lot of ways to do it: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=254472

Thanks ....didn't mean to open up another can of worms....thread was useful...

Thanks...

[JoshBarber]

Was a NIGHTMARE without removing the shaft. Broke the old one off trying to remove it. This ONE spark plug took over an hour to replace. It was the longest part of the job. Wish I read that thread first!

[reffittm]

You can also jack up the engine enough to get a socket on the plug. I did this with mine and it worked great without having to take anything apart.

[Fractured1]

I use a sparkplug socket and then from the top of the engine us a box end wrench that fits the end of the socket, break it loose from the top, go back down inside the wheel well, remove the socket and then spin the plug out...

[JoshBarber]

tried a box end. almost impossible to break it free that way. Im gonna go with the remove the shaft way next time. Don't like the idea of messing with the engine (jacking it up) and putting stress on the mounts.

[Rick Norwood]

Here is a tip I learned a long time ago. It may help you in the future. I keep a 12 inch long piece of rubber hose in my tool box that fits snugly over the Porcelain of the spark plug. When you go to install the new plug, slip the hose onto the spark plug and use the hose to thread the plug into the hole. There is no way you will cross thread the plug or the head as the rubber hose will simply twist on the plug before you can do any damage. Once you get the plug screwed into the hole as far as the rubber hose will let you, then finish tightening it up with a spark plug socket.

I have used this method on every hard to reach plug and it has never failed me yet.

[BlazerLT]

Thread closed, no need to reharsh what we already talked about a day ago.

See the link in the second post for information on this.