S-10 Rant
 

:m5: I'd always heard that 2.2L S-10's were a ***** to change the plug wires. I thought, I'm good with cars, it can't be that bad...

It was absolutely beautiful today! So I decided to install the new NGK plugs and NGK wires I bought a few months ago. A guy at work has a 2.2 and he said it was necessary to remove the PS tire. I get the truck jacked up, w/jackstand under it, and sure enough, lift the flap and easy access to the coil packs! So far so good.

Next I take off the CAI I installed which is actually way easier to remove than all the stock intake stuff. Cool. Got all the wires off pretty easy, got the plugs out, new plugs in. #1 and #2 were a bit of a pain because there is NO extra room with the A/C comressor in the way.

I start to trace the wires down the block in their heat wrap. No biggie, I get them all out. I soon realized there was no way I was going to get the wires back in the heat wrap without taking off the alternator. I tried a few times with no luck. I didn't want to mess up the wires, so the battery was unhooked and off came the alternator... all 3 pain in the ass bolts that hold that on too (I just installed this alternator a couple months ago when the other one pooed on me.)

With the alt. off it was easy to get the plugs in the heat wrap and installed. Got everything back together pretty easy. I probably could have gotten it done without removing the alt. but it was a lot easier with it off.

I've never in my life changed plugs on a vehicle that was anywhere near this difficult.

Rant off :waah:

I also took took the time to wash and wax the truck too. So if I bored you with my post, here's some pics to look at :D

Re: S-10 Rant
 

Not to ruin your rant but if you really want to get mad, come do my 4.3 v6 plugs & wires...:)

Re: S-10 Rant
 

Are they really hard too?

I forgot to add that the truck runs waaaaaaaaay better now. It ran fine before, no miss or stumble or anything... but the difference in throttle response is amazing. The plugs/wires were clearly the factory plugs/wires from '99 w/96K on them. The plugs were pretty shot and dirty.

Overall I'm happy :D

Re: S-10 Rant
 

I havent done it yet but was told they are not fun.

Re: S-10 Rant
 

Nice s10, heres one i'v been fixing up,, theres a link that I have on youtube check it out,, I also have a 67 chevy c10 that i'm going to be starting soon,,

Re: S-10 Rant
 

You made quite an improvement on your '94! Be proud!

Re: S-10 Rant
 

Try changing them in a 94 up camaro. you'll appreciate how easy those were to do. They are a pain.

Re: S-10 Rant
 

1/2 hour to 45 minutes is about right for these. I have space in my driveway today and tomorrow. hint hint

Re: S-10 Rant
 

Yes "Corn" a lot but still have a long ways to go with it this truck is for my 13 yr old ,, lol,, he don't know it yet ,, but I wont finish it I'm going to leave some for him to do,, I sure like your truck for one I like s10's and I like that style of front end and the red is my favorite color, when I start working on my 67 it'll be red.

Re: S-10 Rant
 

yea 4.3 in a s-10 blazer was a blast.yea rite. had to break loose the motor mount on wife's truck just to get the midde plug out.used a big pry bar to lift engine to change that plug. but later was told that snap-on has a special socket just for that application[$37.00].wished i'd known then what i know now bout that socket.

Re: S-10 Rant
 

I think you are the guy that was telling me how hard it was! :lol:

Oh be warned! Im gonna tear into that 2.4 this week. Here come the dumb questions again...

Re: S-10 Rant
 

I did the plugs and wires and cap and rotor in my crew s-10 took me like 1hr and half to do . yeah snapon makes a socket for doing the plug right be hind the steering shaft lucky i have it and i have used it many of times . it works well if you got headers on something to.

Re: S-10 Rant
 

I have this socket as well. It makes a big difference with headers or otherwise.

Here are links to the cheapest places I have found them.

It is a Craftsmen piece, not the Snap-on one. They are very similar in construction.

http://www.jegs.com/p/SLP/764116/10002/-1

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

Re: S-10 Rant
 

Your truck looks good for 96K+ miles.

Re: S-10 Rant
 

Ain't modern engineering great!

Make your next challenge a 3.0l f@rd Aerostar van....At least you have a nice lookin truck when you get the plug wires on. With the f@rd ya still have, well, just a f@rd... LOL

Re: S-10 Rant
 

Glad I'm not the only one with a difficult vehicle!

I think it took about 2 hours or so, tire on/off, CAI on/off, Alt on/off, wires/plugs on/off, heat wrap...

Re: S-10 Rant
 

My pita was my 91 s blazer's 4.3.I somehow fumbled my way through it the first time with a socket and ratchet.The second time,I unbolted and dropped the inner fenders.That made a world of difference!

Re: S-10 Rant
 

You guys with the 4.3s need to get a swivel spark plug socket. These make the number 3 plug a breeze. I use the swivel more then the standard socket.
http://http://www.skhandtool.com/Def...de=10&pid=4480
or
http://http://buy1.snapon.com/catalo...re&dir=catalog

Re: S-10 Rant
 

huh... about three yrs ago I went to a buddy who owns a machine shop and took a regular sprak plug socket, drilled the square drive out with a 3/4" drill bit (not your average drill bit, granted) then cut the socket in half to make it shorter in order to change plugs on my 79 Malibu w/ angle plug Brodix heads. Probably would have been easier to buy one already made!

Re: S-10 Rant
 

Changing the wires and plugs on my 2000 4.3 Blazer wasn't bad. For the plug on the number 3 cylinder, I just unbolted the steering shaft and slid it out of the way. That made it REAL easy to change the plug and only took a few minutes to do. I don't recall having any issues with the other plugs/wires.

Re: S-10 Rant