LT1 spark plugs and wires - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

NjbadSS · 10-26-2009, 11:05 PM

I know that this is a common topic around the different boards, but after trying to conquer the task of replacing the plugs and wires in my 95 Z28, I managed to get the drivers side done and getting my a$$ kicked by the passenger side. I finally took the header off that side today and get 3 of the 4 plugs, still fighting with the cylinder 6 spark plug I believe it is, but now wondering the best way to route my wires? I was a dummy and ripped them off in frustration and now realizing this was a bad move because I can't seem to figure the best route for them in the front of the engine by the distributor itself? I tried a few different ways but seem to think it is not right. Any advice, other than I should have brought it to a garage and spent 500 bucks for a mechanic to do it??

10-26-2009, 11:23 PM

get the OTVC kit with precut wires or cut them yourself, no chance of them burning and it looks clean

NjbadSS · 10-26-2009, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerzLT1

get the OTVC kit with precut wires or cut them yourself, no chance of them burning and it looks clean

I already ordered the wires, went with moroso blue max wires because for some reason I always had luck with them and thought they were a quality wire. Not to worried about looks, just want to get the pig running again right about now haha

sweetbmxrider · 10-27-2009, 07:22 AM

stock, they go under the alternator. you will see a little plastic loom on the accessory bracket if you look closely. its fugging awesome.

Pampered-Z · 10-27-2009, 08:43 AM

I use the basic stock routing, but add a few of the wire seperators and zip tie them back away from the headers.

If you're using thicker then stock wires just be careful to make sure you have plenty of clearance where the wires run near the power steering pump pulley. I've had my wires touch enough to cut 2 wires.

I have the Jethot longtube headers, I found an offset wrench works very well for changing plugs. But #6 is the hardest SOB to get to. Very little room to rotate the wrench from the top, and the header tubes do a bunch of turns right under it. Changing the #6 is always good for a bunch of cursing and tool throwing cause if you drop the plug, it slides down into where the 4 pipes merge so I spend 20 minutes fishing it out, no matter how many rags a stuff in there the dang sparkplugs finds some way to get stuck in there....

JL8Jeff · 10-27-2009, 09:10 AM

I went with the MSD wires on my old 96 SS and took off the stock wire retainer that bends around the front of the engine and opened it up by using a round file to file down the plastic. That way you can route them in the stock location with the stock retainers and they won't pop out and hit the PS pulley. It definitely takes a good 5-8 hours to do the complete job the right way.

LTb1ow · 10-27-2009, 09:22 AM

What kind of headers?

I did what Jeff did, routed em behind the PS pulley, had one get a slight scuff but I fixed that. IDK what kind of wires you used to run or how the new ones are, but I used to burn wires up weekly trying to get away with stock routing.

NjbadSS · 10-27-2009, 11:16 AM

Pampered Z- You my friend are absolutely accurate in what you said. I fought last night for about two hours trying to get #6, finally got the darn thing out but putting the new plug in is the problem. I dropped the dam thing countless times and than finally gave up for the night.

lts1ow- I have a set of edelbrock mid tube headers.

I appreciate the advice and hopefully will get the wires routed the right way and be cruising around again soon. Thanks guys

siguy · 10-27-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njbadaSS

Pampered Z- You my friend are absolutely accurate in what you said. I fought last night for about two hours trying to get #6, finally got the darn thing out but putting the new plug in is the problem. I dropped the dam thing countless times and than finally gave up for the night.

lts1ow- I have a set of edelbrock mid tube headers.

I appreciate the advice and hopefully will get the wires routed the right way and be cruising around again soon. Thanks guys

back in the day with my mac shorty headers i would remove the starter to get to the back plugs made life so much easyer to get my monkey hands up there .... plus i had cut down the spark plug socket and use a rachect wrench over shorten spark plug socket ......

also you can use a peice of vacumline over to help screw it in ... hope this helps anyone who has to replace the plugs on a tight clearance headers or exhaust manifolds......

as far has wires i hated the way gm route them and made up my own set before i moved over to the delteq system

NjbadSS · 10-27-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siguy

back in the day with my mac shorty headers i would remove the starter to get to the back plugs made life so much easyer to get my monkey hands up there .... plus i had cut down the spark plug socket and use a rachect wrench over shorten spark plug socket ......

also you can use a peice of vacumline over to help screw it in ... hope this helps anyone who has to replace the plugs on a tight clearance headers or exhaust manifolds......

how exactly would you use a piece of vacuum line to help in tight spots?

Tru2Chevy · 10-27-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njbadaSS

how exactly would you use a piece of vacuum line to help in tight spots?

you stick a piece of vacuum line over the end and it effectively makes the plug longer, and the end flexible so you can more easily screw it in by hand.

- Justin

LTb1ow · 10-27-2009, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njbadaSS

how exactly would you use a piece of vacuum line to help in tight spots?

Ya, although something like 1/4 fuel line would work a bit better IMO.

siguy · 10-27-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tru2Chevy

you stick a piece of vacuum line over the end and it effectively makes the plug longer, and the end flexible so you can more easily screw it in by hand.

- Justin

yes well said

NjbadSS · 10-27-2009, 01:02 PM

awesome idea, never heard of this. I will try it out and hopefully get the last plug. Thanks a lot guys!

JL8Jeff · 10-27-2009, 08:39 PM

Yeah, dropping the starter on LT1's make the back 2 plugs easier to do from below.

emolineaux · 12-02-2009, 08:43 PM

on my old 93 i did the driver side all under the car. passanger side i think i did the front 2 under and the back to up top lol. wires were a pita to get routed the right way. i just wire tied them out of the way to make it easier. i wouldnt do it again though lol. but dont feel to bad i couldnt get my big hands back to the last plug wire on my 98 to finish hooking it up so i had to call a friend with little hands lol