How do you get to the aft spark plugs?

In?

 

In a 308? 328? And I assume you are talking about the front plugs (i.e., the ones on the bank facing the driver's seat, not the ones facing the rear of the car). You need a long spark plug socket with a built in swivel to get in there. The socket should also have a rubber donut inside it to grab the plug. It also helps to work from the top of the engine hood, rather than from under it (between the hood and the rear window, if you can). I put the socket in the well, get it seated on the plug, then attach the ratchet to the swivel. It's a PITA job, but very doable.

Putting the plugs back in, I put the plug into the socket and thread by hand. Or I use a piece of 5/16" hose over the plug and use that to fish the plug down the hole and get it started in the threads. Just be very careful not to cross-thread. And don't forget to use a tiny bit of anti-sieze or engine oil on the threads.

 

I use a standard sparkplug socket with a 3" extension on it. Put it into the hole and then using a flat style 3/8 socket wrench just place it on top of the extension and unscrew the sparkplug. After it is loose then take the socket wrench off and unscrew the plug by hand. Pull the extension/socket out with the plug in it. I do the install in reverse. Make sure you use anti-seize on the threads.

 

This is how I did mine. Tools from local Craftman shop
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Are we talking airplanes here or cars?

 

If it's a GTS I've found it's much easier to stand inside the cabin with the roof off and reach over the back. On later cars the spoilers may make it hard to reach though. Then I just use a magnetic spark plug socket and short extension.

 

Aft? With that screename he must mean the Cessna....

 

After you pull the plug extender and seal off, don't forget to blow out the accumulated trash/water before you pull the plug. Stuff somehow sneaks past the seal and if you pull the plug or move the new plug around a bit trying to get into the hole, (i'm serious here, so don't go drawing any unsavory/disparaging inuendos), anyway, you don't want to let/bump any trash/water down into the cylinder, so blow it out with a good blast of compressed air before you pull the plug.

Oh yes, don't forget to avert your eyes,

in all seriousness,
chris

 

Some will probably disagree but I use anti-seize on the plug threads when reinstalling - never had it be a problem with affecting the conductivity.

Incidentally, stay away from the Bosch platinums....

 

Niggly - Sure we aren't talking about the 'fore' plugs. My aft plugs are right out in the open.

 

Nothing works better than the spark plug wrench which was supplied with the 308 tool kit. I was able remove and install the plugs with no problem at all using that tool. Of course, the ease of this job may have something to do with the length of one's arms also!

 

Unfortunately Doc there are some jerks who take and sell the tool kits instead of letting them go to the new owner. When you are in this situation you don't want to pay $500 for a sparkplug wrench. Sorry , just had to say that , I didn't mean "jerks" I should have said *********s.

 

Glad to hear I'm not the only guy who has observed that kind of behavior. What a cheap ass thing to do. I bought a ferrari a few years ago on ebay and when the car showed up the tool kit was missing. Within a week the same private party seller was selling guess what on ebay? Yup, the freakin' tool kit that should have been in my car. I mean, who does that sheit?

 

Obviously the previous owner of your car!! Sorry couldn't resist.

I wonder why the original poster hasn't been back to his thread? Judging by the very small avatar pic it appears he might be asking about a 328??

 

Ditto here. Except I have short arms and climbed into the trunk to do it.

 

Call Paul at Ferrparts or the guys at TRutlands and see what they have laying around.

 

My arms are plenty long enough, but I can frequently be seen sitting (knleeing even!) in my trunk. It's actually quite comfy to work on the engine from there!

 

When I had my Mondial, I unbolted the convenient access hatch (another plus for the sadsack Mondial) to reach the forward plugs. Now that I have a V12, I'm going to let Brian change them. Too many plugs. I'd have to take off my shoes to get it straight.

 

I keep picturing Tom Cruise in that first MI movie hanging from the ceiling .

 

Look for a thin spark plug socket or it may not fit in the tube. The skinnier the better.I searched through all my old socket kits and found one and ground it down then iI found my F car kit had one and I used a larger socket on the knuckle.All that grinding for naught,Oh well. But an easy job with either.