[Bobo57]

Hi All,
Holy c%$p, 5 hours and I only have the driver side done. It’s pretty hard to get these pickle fingers in to undo and reinstall. Got the new Accell wire and they are too long. Looks like these will have to go back and I’ll get the AC Delco OEM wires......

B:blue:

 

[moscooter]

Hi All,
Holy c%$p, 5 hours and I only have the driver side done. It’s pretty hard to get these pickle fingers in to undo and reinstall. Got the new Accell wire and they are too long. Looks like these will have to go back and I’ll get the AC Delco OEM wires......

B:blue:

For sure it's difficult to get in/out of some of those tight spaces. I'm curious as to what symptoms/conditions prompted you to swap out the plugs and wires.

I've pulled and reinstalled many a set of plugs, along with wires and points/condenser and rotors and sometimes the cap too.

But that was all many years ago. Ignition systems for the last 20-25 years have been so superior to what was previously available, I never even think about those things as needing attention.:|

 

[Bobo57]

Don’t have many miles on the truck but showing a P0308 code.

 

[RadAirAndy]

OEM Wires are the best bet.

 

[Bobo57]

Bad plugs

I’ve had pugs go bad in my Vette after only 15,000 Miles. I’m guessing that the heat from the surrounding headers caused the problem. Had the same P0308 code go on the Vette, changed the number 8 plug as a test and that solved the problem. Guessing this is a similar issue.
B:blue:

 

[Mike in AZ]

Just did a set about 2 weeks ago.... ick.

I have found that a 1/4" ratchet works best getting in the tight places on the SSR. A real workout for finger strength and a lot of braille.......

The "book" is about 2 hours, I think....

 

[Bobo57]

2 hours, we’ll I am way behind the curve........

 

[Warrior=='06]

Hi All,
Holy c%$p, 5 hours and I only have the driver side done. It’s pretty hard to get these "pickle fingers" in to undo and reinstall.
B:blue:

=========================================

Oh, so you have that problem too, eh??!?!! - :surprise:

★☆★ ★☆★​

==============
David :black:

 

[moscooter]

Just did a set about 2 weeks ago.... ick.

I have found that a 1/4" ratchet works best getting in the tight places on the SSR. A real workout for finger strength and a lot of braille.......

The "book" is about 2 hours, I think....

:frown2:

Not sure just which part of the process is causing the most grief. If it happens to be trying to re-insert the new plugs in the hole, an old trick that is often helpful is to (reverse) an old spark plug "boot" and jam it on to the end of the new plug. This will give you additional "reach" and at the same time, some flexibility in getting it all lined up.:wink2:

 

[Bobo57]

Just a comedy of errors for me today. 15 minutes or so to get each spark plug boot off, couldn’t figure out how to grab it properly without damaging the wire. Dropped a wrench done near the frame, that took a half hour to retrieve. Couldn’t find the spark plug boot grease. Tried for a while to get the front plug boot off from underneath, gave up on that and promptly proceeeded to cut my hand getting access from the top thru the wire harness and bracket, etc. etc. etc. etc.......

Was going slow to start so I didn’t screw something up. Rushing usually means breaking something for me.....
B

 

[Mike in AZ]

:frown2:

Not sure just which part of the process is causing the most grief. If it happens to be trying to re-insert the new plugs in the hole, an old trick that is often helpful is to (reverse) an old spark plug "boot" and jam it on to the end of the new plug. This will give you additional "reach" and at the same time, some flexibility in getting it all lined up.:wink2:

until you have done this.... you can't really appreciate the grief...... you can't even see the #1 spark plug... it is behind the power steering pump, below the exhaust manifold and completely hidden by the wiring harness. The #2 and #4 plugs are awful as well....... the rest are just difficult.

Mike

 

[Bobo57]

Amen Mike........

 

[ssr71]

I did mine last year. While I do agree that some are a PITA to get at, it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I did buy a set of spark plug boot pliers, and those helped pull the old boots off where I was unable to get my hand. I did have one terminal break.

To reinsert the plugs, I just stick it into the socket with a short extension and use that as a handle. When threading in by hand, it's easy to feel if you're cross threaded or not. Once it's threaded in, I just attach the ratchet handle and cinch it tight.

And yes... I had plenty of cuts and nicks on my hands when I was done. I may not have "pickle fingers", but my hands aren't exactly small either.

 

[SWT RYD]

Just a comedy of errors for me today. 15 minutes or so to get each spark plug boot off, couldn’t figure out how to grab it properly without damaging the wire. Dropped a wrench done near the frame, that took a half hour to retrieve. Couldn’t find the spark plug boot grease. Tried for a while to get the front plug boot off from underneath, gave up on that and promptly proceeeded to cut my hand getting access from the top thru the wire harness and bracket, etc. etc. etc. etc.......

Was going slow to start so I didn’t screw something up. Rushing usually means breaking something for me.....
B

Is this something I should add to my "WHY ME" list.

 

[tnhillbilly]

I may have really messed up. I just installed the complete engine cover sold by the fellow in FL and damn, it is pretty but I did not change the plugs and wires prior to installing the cover. So to change the plugs, everything has to come off. Hope I don't have any probleml

 

[Dicktator]

I just had my 04 Re-tuned by Jeremy on Wednesday. Mine was the FIRST SSR Jeremy ever tuned.

He re-tuned mine about 5 yrs ago and just did it again.

It was off from last tune by 10% REALLY runs good now!! As it gets OLDER, like me, tune changes!

Electrical is good, no leaks, no missing, no errors.

So, I won't be changing my PLUGS/WIRES for a while, besides I ONLY have 132,000 miles on them!

My Tech2 says all is well, Not Broke, Don't Fix it!!

Dicktator

 

[jackatg450]

Dental floss..........

Anytime I am working in or above a tight place,(just about anywhere under the hood on the SSR) I tie a piece of dental floss to the bolt or small wrench. You may not be able to get it out but at least you know where it went.

Jack

 

[FallenAngel2]

Take the wheels off and take out the plastic fender liner.

 

[nj6969]

Take the wheels off and take out the plastic fender liner.

Are you serious?! Has anyone else done this? If so, is it really worth the time? I know on some old cars going through the A arm opening made it easier. Mine don't need plugs this minute but things change.

Nick

 

[river_rat]

Bobo
I'll add a little info I gleaned from chasing a P307 on the Flame truck, which turned out being a mis-firing plug on a very low mileage R as well. Came across a TSB from GM recommending switching to a 41-962 Double Platinum instead of the original 41-985 Iridium to solve a misfire issue that GM was experiencing. The OEM 41-985 I pulled had a gap of .060 which I believe that was the factory gap for the "early" 41-985 plugs from ACDelco. The recommended gap is .040 for the R and at the time of that particular TSB, I don't think there was a Delco Iridium plug with the correct specs that had a preset gap of .040. Re-gapping Iridium plugs is not recommended. Since that first TSB, Delco came out with the 41-110 which is an Iridium plug gapped at .040 and is what now shows up as the recommended replacement for the 41-985.

Good luck on solving your P308, I truly believe that my P307 was related to too large of gap on the OEM 41-985 for the coils packs used on the R. First time I ever had any problems with ACDelco plugs on any of our vehicles.