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Changing plugs with Quad1's

3K views 22 replies 9 participants last post by  BALLSS 
#1 ·
I've got a dead cylinder (#6, 2nd from the rear, passenger side) and i want to replace the plug and wire to see if that fixes the problem. Does anyone have any tips on how to get to that plug?

I tried from underneath but i can't even get enough of my hand on it to remove the boot. I've heard of some people going through the wheel well but i don't see how that's going to help with the way the tubes are run.
 
#2 ·
Pull the header or fabricate a custom spark plug wrench. Which reminds me I need to get back to designing myself a custom wrench for that plug. When I get one that works I'll let you know.

At least that's been my experience with Quad-1's and hole number 6. Good luck.

-Brian
 
#4 · (Edited)
Pull the header! I hope it doesn't come to that. I can get one of those special plug sockets with the cut out but right now i can't even get the boot off. Looks like msd wires and boots and the boots are bigger than the stock ones. I can really only get 2 fingers on the boot itself from underneath. Once I find a way to get it out i'm not sure how i'll get the boot back on. I'm going to try and remove the temp sensor thats right next to it to create some room. Man... these things are a pain in the butt....
 
#3 ·
don't have quad headers....but # 6 is the challenge with the ones I have

I use a cut down/modified plug socket (no rubber insert) and a box wrench to loosen then loosen/remove by hand from underneath the car

dropping the starter will give more room, otherwise disconnect the battery to prevent the sparks show if you hit the starter cables with wrench

I cut the top end down some and removed one side of the socket. It drops "over" the plug then slide down

there are also "header" sockets similar you can buy, some even shorter which may be easier to get on your plug
 

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#5 ·
I can usually pull the boot with my hands without pulling anything else out of the way. Although my plug wires run from the coils mounted on the valve covers.

I have one spark plug socket that's even more cut down than the picture BallSS showed and it works but it is a pain in the ass to use. I'll spend 45-50min on that damn plug alone.

-Brian
 
#6 ·
plug

I just did this as I had a loose plug.My brother is a mechanic so he got right in there and got it done.I am going to cut up an old socket like the one above so I have it for next time.Its def a pain in the a**.
 
#7 ·
Yes, cut a small piece through the wheel well in the rubber, and go through that way. I found the Quad 1s actually fairly simple to do. And worst case, back the header off the head. That's how I had to do my CIA budgets.

You'll need to put a elbow on the extension in the middle, but you can get it done. Pull the wheel, it'll make your life a lot easier... I've done nearly every shortcut in the book. I can't say I've found one worth it yet.... But the quad 1s, I found a lot of headers a lot bigger pain to change than them...
 
#8 ·
I don't see how the wheel well will work just by looking at it. That 1 tube across the top looks to be directly in the way. Having said that, its certainly worth a try. Did you use a typical spark plug socket or the modified version people keep talking about?
 
#9 ·
if you pull the starter...does that open up a different angle of approach to access # 6 from underneath?

I find going through the wheel well for #2 & 4 works well. # 6 I get from below, # 8 from above but I don't have Quad headers, just shortys

If you in fact need to back off the header, replace that gasket
 
#10 ·
I don't know if its the room or just the angle but i can get a box wrench on the plug from below, but i can't get it to seat on the hex part so that i can turn it. I will also try a stubby 5/8 box wrench or maybe an offset one. Very frustrating being under the car for an hour and not getting anything done. On a stock Impala i got good at the plugs. In 15 min I probably would have them all out.

What will really bother me if is i go through all this and its not just a bad plug that's causing the prob. Checking the plug was supposed to be the 'easy' 1st thing to check.
 
#12 ·
link doesn't work. I assume it would look like the picture posted earlier in the thread. I've only seen something like that for around $50. That's a lot of money to change a $2 spark plug but if it keeps me sane it may be worth it.
 
#14 ·
#17 ·
#18 ·
It's been years since I changed those plugs, I gave the car to my brother... But I only had to go through the wheel well to access one of them. I used a standard spark plug socket. Long extension, joint, and then another extension. The first extension was long though, 12 inches? I just remember the plugs were not a problem to do on the quad 1's. I had much more trouble with the borla shorties I had, which were very similar to the AS&M, or SLPs. They were impossible to do on the heads, and they were a bitch to get on and off... My CIA budgets I had to back off the head as well, but they were much easier to access the bolts as Bill had already knocked in the header tubes to get the socket in.
 
#19 ·
pass thru socket

Finally got it using a pass thru socket from HF. Putting the new plug in was an adventure what with only being able to get 2 fingers on it but... job done. Unfortunately it didn't fix the problem but i'll start a new thread for that. Thanks everyone for all the help.
 
#20 ·
Finally got it using a pass thru socket from HF. Putting the new plug in was an adventure what with only being able to get 2 fingers on it but... job done. Unfortunately it didn't fix the problem but i'll start a new thread for that. Thanks everyone for all the help.
I just bought a car with the same headers and its time to change the plugs , #6 looks impossible to get to with out removing header.
did you get it from the top or bottom with that pass thru socket set from harbor freight
 
#23 ·
yeah as mentioned in this thread a home made cut down/slotted socket or the exploding wallet $15-$50 ones from various manufacturers, if you have headers one or more cyl will offer challenges. Often # 6 on the SBC

I get #6 from underneath with the mentioned (post #3) "modified" plug socket and do remove starter....but if not removing starter be sure to disconnect battery as the wrench will get very close (read will) contact the +12v connection...and make for quite a sparkling experience.
 
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