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Apr 8, 2004 | 05:55 AM

#16

mymechanic'sanidiot

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Thanks for all the input guys. I'm gonna wait a few hours and then head out to work on it. I went ahead and got the plug wires so after I check the plugs I'm going to change those. Hopefully it won't be too long or painful a job. I just wish my apartment complex wasn't so picky about folks working on their cars. I'd love to go ahead and change the oil while I'm at it. As it is, I have to wait til this weekend when I can go to the in-laws.

Apr 8, 2004 | 07:56 AM

#17

Ranger Lance

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From: Seabrook, Texas

Also, the heads on the 3.0L vulcan are cast iron.

Oops, just left the Miata in the garage and was stuck on that train of thought since it has aluminum heads. My bad.

I still would suggest that on any vehicle, never seize on spark plug threads is definitely the way to go (see post below on rusted/stuck spark plug).

Last edited by Ranger Lance; Apr 8, 2004 at 08:00 AM. Reason: adding additional info

Apr 8, 2004 | 09:17 AM

#18

mymechanic'sanidiot

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Well, the mechanic in my name strikes again. I went out and changed my wires. In the instructions for the new set, it said to route them so they don't touch the manifold. I look at the old wires and lo and behold, they're routed right along the manifold. There were white spots on the sheaths of the #4 & 5 wires where they had been in contact with the manifold. But the new wires seem to have helped. Haven't taken her out for a good run through yet though. Hopefully this will fix it.

Apr 8, 2004 | 11:47 AM

#19

Lone_Ranger01

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From: St. Louis region

Did you remember not to torque down the spark plugs, just snug them up....if you overtighten them your gonna have a heck of a time getting them out next time you do a tuneup.

Apr 8, 2004 | 02:44 PM

#20

mymechanic'sanidiot

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Most of them are just snugged. Since I'll have the hood up this weekend changing the oil, I'll just go ahead and re-check them. Better safe than sorry. I think that's why I had such a hard time with taking some of the old ones off. They were torqued down by the mechanic probably. On a side note, I noticed while I was driving around that alot of ping is gone. I was having really bad pinging before, now its hardly noticable and doesn't occur as much.

Apr 8, 2004 | 03:22 PM

#21

TotallyRoosted

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From: santa clarita california

personally if one plug is that rusted..... i would start spraying it with some penetrating oil right now so it will be easier for the weekend..... i use this stuff that is GREAT! and they sell it at autozone and pepboys and kragen... it is the UGLIEST can.... its white/yellow with red/blue writing and its called PB penetrating oil..... stuff is GREAT! i work with a lot of cars from the 50's-70's and i have a case of this stuff and it really is awesome..... couldnt work on cars without it...... start spraying now to loosen it for the weekend..... and its not a good thing that "most are snug" they should ALL be snug... haha goodluck with it... you dont really want that in your head... or at least i wouldnt.... say your going on a trip for a few hundred miles andyou bring your ranger...... that will eat att eh back of you mind that some are tight, 1 is maybe loose and 1 is the old/rusted original plug..... that would drive me crazy personally... goodluck

Joe

Apr 8, 2004 | 03:57 PM

#22

Rockledge

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From: Connecticut

Quote:

Originally Posted by TotallyRoosted

I agree Joe, "PB Blaster" is very good for freeing up rusty and frozen nuts and bolts, I have been using it for about a year now and the stuff works better than anything I've tried previously (Liquid Wrench, WD-40, etc.), plain and simple...

Apr 8, 2004 | 04:28 PM

#23

mymechanic'sanidiot

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Roosted...I know that a. they are all new b. that none of them is loose. c. 1 or 2 might be too tight. I don't recall seeing any rust on the old ones but I don't have them right in front of me to check. They were just on there real tight. Sorry if there was any confusion in my older post. And I wouldn't say its driving me crazy.