How To: Change #3 spark plug

[1sic03x]

i just used What?'s setup.

and heres out you get #3 out. lol.

[96Blazer LS]

I have always jacked up the the left front, removed the tire, then lifted the splash guard on the innner fender well, using sockets and extentions and removed and installed spark plug with no problems. I have O.E. exhaust manifolds though. Worked on both my 88 and 96 Blazers.

[DimeBlazer Dad]

I'm on my 6th 4.3 S-10, with a couple of V-8s and 4 bangers mixed in, and the easiest way I've found, not necessarily the fastest, is to put the drivers side up on a jackstand, remove that tire, take a couple of long extensions, and go in through the wheel well, The flap can be moved out of the way enough to give you plenty of room to get to everything

[jweller]

could somebody please repost the pic of the bolt that needs to be removed? I am either seriously lost under the hood or mine has a pin pressed in

[jweller]

Nevermind, figured it out. I was looking under the accordion boot in the middle of the shaft

[flyingtim]

Hey rlith, just wanted to drop you a line and thank you for the quick solution to changing the plug in good old #3. After that, the hardest part of the job was getting the brittle wire clips with 86,000 on them to open up. Thanks again!

[jdrautoworks]

Up on the lift or floor jack, and allow the suspension to go to full extension. Use a deep 5/8" universal socket on a 10-12" extension. It's worked for me on hundreds of different S10's without fail. I get them all through the fender well.

[D.T.]

I just did mine and I'd say removing the front wheels is the best way to do it. Then get a LONG extension, at least 18". I did pull one of the clips off the spark plug. Had to re-crimp, but it worked fine on the HT lead.

Works very good, then you can inspect/grease your ball joints etc. also.

[blazin02]

I always found it easy to put a block of wood against the oil pam and jack the motor up slightly with a floor jack enough the clear the steering shaft

[1sic03x]

hmm. thats actually not a bad idea.

[amp173]

Quote: Originally Posted by 1_sic_03x

i just used What?'s setup.

and heres out you get #3 out. lol.

thats exactly how mine came out too!!! hahahah

It was no fun though

[ßɭĬƮƵ]

it was a pain to get that one out...

[crowbar]

thank you for giving me the confidence to remove the steering shaft, made it a breeze

[rv34]

With my 31s, I remove the steering shaft, and leave the front wheels on and I can do the plugs in 30 min. Much easier then removing the wheel or stressing the already shitty motor mounts by jacking the engine up.

[supasoulja]

Bump for a helpful thread

[LUVMY02CREW]

Thanks for a great write up/how to!!! The pictures in the first post aren't working for me, but with the write up I was able to get new plugs in this morning in my '02 crew with the 4.3.

Now, if the distributor cap, rotor and plug wires go as easy, my daily driver tank will love me again.


The 3 plugs on drivers side were coated with black residue, the passenger side looked normal for probably original plugs with 97k on them...I guess a new search and reading is in order now...

[thieves]

just did my plugs, had to replace the #3 wire, the damn boot broke.

I'm sure I had the original plugs, all but one was cracked/or I cracked them breaking them loose, and one of the plugs completely snapped in half it was so brittle.

I have to agree, I tried fighting it, the drive shaft is the easiest way to go, despite the pictures not working in the first post. I advise you to w40 the drive shaft connection before trying to put it back together, it will be much easier.

Also, the AC delco platinums are pregapped, or at least mine were, to .060" so no gapping tool necessary.

those retaining clips were a pain, but a regular screwdriver sized pry tool works well to unclip them. I'll be doing the remaining wires sometime in the next week or so.

[thieves]

also, I was able to break the spark plug free without removing the shaft, but not loosen it enough to where I could back it out by hand. I see many used a vacuum hose, I didn't have one on hand, so I took the shaft apart. I must say, getting it together was much more difficult than getting it apart.

breaker bar + hammer got the gear box and shaft to marry again.



I keep forgetting, this was on an 01 4.3L blazer, with tilt wheel

[rick_96s10]

is it just me or are the pictures no longer visable.. I always love having pics in helping with tearing stuff down and reassembling..Is there another link where the pics work or is this it... thanks..

[Yogi]

Quote: Originally Posted by rick_96s10

is it just me or are the pictures no longer visable.. I always love having pics in helping with tearing stuff down and reassembling..Is there another link where the pics work or is this it... thanks..

Looks like the OP took em down. Sorry.

[PJ242]

Is there any reason why the pics aint showing up?

[Yogi]

The OP must have taken them down.

[More Displacement]

Read one that already said this dont know if anybody else did wasnt gonna read 150 plus posts, but i went thru the wheel well above the tire. Thats the way Ive always seen it done. The rubber wheel well extension is easily moved out of the way and the plugs are right there. I never had to lift the front of the vehicle but it might help some.

[mrmontebuilder]

I just did all mine the other day through the wheel wells for the most part, left side took all of 15 minutes for all 3. I used a long wobble extension and a plug socket and had zero issues with the steering shaft at all. Mine is a totally stock 2wd and I did it with tires on the truck and not jacked up at all.

[tjwskateboy0505]

Quote: Originally Posted by zoideraserb

not tryin to say this way isn't a good solution but, why not just do it an easier way..? Put the plug socket on and use a wrench on the end of the socket to loosen/tighten it? worked for me just fine.

when i did my 2.2l to 4.3 swap, i sat there for about 30 mins try to figure out how the change that thing. will after about half a pack of smokes that what i end up doing. a socket that you could get a wrench and and just did that. lol

[ruubzs10blazer]

you guys are all insane. if you use a 2-3' extesion and impact gun. go through the wheel well from the tire area and it's a straight shot without wobbles or busted knuckles. that's how we do it at our shop.

[mrmontebuilder]

I tried and could not get a straight shot on #3 even with a 3 foot extension, I used a wobble and it went right on no fuss, no muss. I have done 5 or 6 others within the last year or so and used all the same tools, no removing anything (other than the wires obviously LOL) and it was a piece of cake. But I am still insane but that was L-O-N-G before I ever owned an s10 LOL

[AustinBlazer]

I have a 1991 4.3 4x4 with the Jeep steering shaft and use a $7 Autozone swivel plug socket and an extension, went through the wheel well no problem. Didn't have a problem when I had the original shaft as well, never took it off to change the plugs.