MY god I hate changing plugs on my 4.3L!!!!

[BlazerLT]

Changed them out after 30,000kms and about threee years.

I forgot how much I hated it. I had rapidfires in it and I went back to standard AC Delco plugs.

The front passenger side and the driver's side middle are the worst. The rest can be replaced easy with the wheels off and with two long extensions and the plug socket.

I screwed around with the driver's side middle plug without taking the steering arm off (I have never done it and was a pussy), and I had to break off the insulator to get to the nut portion. I was using a plug socket and a 3/4 inch wrench through the reaching down under the hood to try and loosen it with a couple rubber hammer blows but 10 minutes later I saw that I was actually tightening it and wasn't paying attention. Yes, moron storms do hit here in Canada. Then I tried to use a normal 5/8 socket and some extensions and I stripped the nut portion seeing it was on an angle. I was REALLY pissed off at myself for being this stupid and lazy. I even went and bought some stripped bolt removers to get to it but they sisn't help either. This took about 1.5 hours for this one plug.

Finally, with the help of Rlith's guide in the FAQ I took the steering arm off and bam, in 2 minutes the plug was changed, why I never tried it this way I will never know, I face it, I was a idiotic pussy.

Put everything back together and found that most of the plugs were ok, except that driver's side and passenger side middle plug which had white ash deposits on them. The rest have a white haze but over all, in good shape, but they needed to be changed.

Went for a test drive and in 20 miles noticed that my steering wheel was crooked to the left about 10-20 degrees.

Took it too a friends to have him help me and had to do it twice to get it straight.

NOTE FOR EVERYONE: If it doesn't slip on easily, it is not on right, when I hit the sweet spot it slip down the steering box shaft with no effort. If you have to work and wiggle it on, it is not on right at all. I have learned this.

With the wheels off and the steering shaft off, you will be able to replace all plugs in about 1 hour taking your time and gapping and putting never seize on the plug threads.

Being a chicken shit moron like myself and you will be at it for 3 hours.

Lesson learned the LAST TIME. Don't be like me today.

[OverBoardProject]

That's where the 2.8L is nice, the plugs are a 1/2 hour job at the most to properly gap them and everything.

Glad to see that it all worked out for you BlazerLT. I've seen mechanics have the same problem atempting to take short cuts.

[SComp23]

I was the same way about the steering shaft, I didn't want to remove it either. After looking at the plug for about 5 seconds I said hell with it and removed it, very glad that I did. It seems like it would be quite hard to screw up the R&R on that shaft.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by SComp23

I was the same way about the steering shaft, I didn't want to remove it either. After looking at the plug for about 5 seconds I said hell with it and removed it, very glad that I did. It seems like it would be quite hard to screw up the R&R on that shaft.

Actually, it is quite easy for it to be misaligned and it will go on unproperly.

Took me three tries to get it right.

[SComp23]

Really? I did not know that, the shaft did not turn at all when I did it so maybe that was why I had it so easy. Good to know for the future however.

[JC327]

Yep, serious pain in the hind quarters. And I believe I'm due sometime this year myself on my '98.

Which also reminds me, I need to change my oil and all that this week sometime.

[BlazerLT]

Here are some shots of my plugs. Click on the small pics for a bigger version.



A shot of all 6 lined up with their cylinder. This is if you were facing the engine bay from the front of the truck.



This is the back driver's side plug. Doesn't look that great and is showing some ash and oil fouling probably from the PCV system before I installed the PCV catchcan. This stuff is rock hard too. Will not come off.



This is the usual white deposits I see on the most of the plugs. Looks like these plugs are burning a little too hot for my comfort. The new plugs do make a difference, as soon as it started you could hear the difference in loudness in the exhaust.

And this is what I have to say to the middle driver's side plug......

[excheezhead]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

Here are some shots of my plugs. Click on the small pics for a bigger version.



A shot of all 6 lined up with their cylinder. This is if you were facing the engine bay from the front of the truck.



This is the back driver's side plug. Doesn't look that great and is showing some ash and oil fouling probably from the PCV system before I installed the PCV catchcan. This stuff is rock hard too. Will not come off.



This is the usual white deposits I see on the most of the plugs. Looks like these plugs are burning a little too hot for my comfort. The new plugs do make a difference, as soon as it started you could hear the difference in loudness in the exhaust.

And this is what I have to say to the middle driver's side plug......

my favorite is the top left one in the 6 plug picture!!!

[ZL1power69]

last time i changed the oil, i pulled 2 of the "easy" plugs out to check them. they looked good so i didn't replace them. im do for another oil change (which i will do sat) and i will check them again. hoping i don't need to replace them.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by ZL1power69

last time i changed the oil, i pulled 2 of the "easy" plugs out to check them. they looked good so i didn't replace them. im do for another oil change (which i will do sat) and i will check them again. hoping i don't need to replace them.

The two "easy ones" will not give you a good overall impression of the plugs.

The easy one I pulled looked perfect, the farther back in the engine bay you go, the worse they get.

Trust me, they will be crappy.

[ZL1power69]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

The two "easy ones" will not give you a good overall impression of the plugs.

The easy one I pulled looked perfect, the farther back in the engine bay you go, the worse they get.

Trust me, they will be crappy.

god damn it. im really hoping i don't have to, lol. i'll have to go to the dealer sometime and get plugs then.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by ZL1power69

god damn it. im really hoping i don't have to, lol. i'll have to go to the dealer sometime and get plugs then.

Nah, just go and get some stndard AC Delcos.

In my 1995 they are actually performing better.

I won't be going back to rapidfires again, they are ok, but not worth the money and the thiner elctrode tends to corrode easily.

Just bite the bullet and do it like I did, after the job you will be happier.

[dmbrisket 51]

mine became easyer with the bigger moter in it, the 4.3 was nothen but a bitch and now its a brease

[mountie1982]

Just did my 97 4.3l. It was a pain in the ass for sure. Not looking forward to doing that again.

[534BC]

I used swivel socket and extensions and am glad not to have to remove steering shaft, I'm lazy though when it comes to work.