re-rebuild findings - 310K mi. spark plug

[denalilex]

so as im sure a handful of you know - my gen 1 6L80 finally got tired enough to throw in the towel & so while i have taken on my first ever trans rebuild/overhaul - of which im taking an over abundance of caution with & patience with myself - i’ve also decided to tend to some parts that REALLY need attention…. spark plugs was first on the list (which, i know, i know… don’t come for me plssss lol)

i have heard that with the LS engines - mechanics have been displaying a lazy habit of leaving the last plug on the back of the engine passenger side & just replacing the rest because that one is a b**ch … admittedly, yes , i can see that it is such, but find someone with small hands (a woman with a wrench, comes in handy in this moment ) - & it won’t be so hard. anyway, i thought that sounded a little ridiculous but low & behold ….. a lone factory ac delco iridium plug was in its place on my engine & the rest were AutoLite brand …. i chuckled. cus what else are you going to do? that plug has 310K miles on it. no misfires. or maybe there were … some 200k miles ago lmao ugh wtf

just something to look out for if you’re taking on one of these trucks & it needs some loving.

 

[j91z28d1]

is the back plug really that bad?

makes me wonder if it's harder on the non hybrid trucks. I don't remember any extra hassle when doing mine.


amazing a plug still fires with 300k lol.

 

[OR VietVet]

so as im sure a handful of you know - my gen 1 6L80 finally got tired enough to throw in the towel & so while i have taken on my first ever trans rebuild/overhaul - of which im taking an over abundance of caution with & patience with myself - i’ve also decided to tend to some parts that REALLY need attention…. spark plugs was first on the list (which, i know, i know… don’t come for me plssss lol)

i have heard that with the LS engines - mechanics have been displaying a lazy habit of leaving the last plug on the back of the engine passenger side & just replacing the rest because that one is a b**ch … admittedly, yes , i can see that it is such, but find someone with small hands (a woman with a wrench, comes in handy in this moment ) - & it won’t be so hard. anyway, i thought that sounded a little ridiculous but low & behold ….. a lone factory ac delco iridium plug was in its place on my engine & the rest were AutoLite brand …. i chuckled. cus what else are you going to do? that plug has 310K miles on it. no misfires. or maybe there were … some 200k miles ago lmao ugh wtf

just something to look out for if you’re taking on one of these trucks & it needs some loving.

If you don't post pics, it didn't happen......

 

[denalilex]

If you don't post pics, it didn't happen......

i had the picsss!!!! they didn’t post. pls hold. i absolutely TOOK PICS bc yeah i wouldn’t believe me either pls hold

 

[OR VietVet]

i had the picsss!!!! they didn’t post. pls hold. i absolutely TOOK PICS bc yeah i wouldn’t believe me either pls hold

Suuuurrrrrrreeeee ya did....

 

[denalilex]

If you don't post pics, it didn't happen......

ok i figured it out
.. forgive me. i am but an amateur at everything internet

 

[denalilex]

& why, yes, that IS the mani heat shield that is noticeably no where to be found.

nbd, it just rusted off.

 

[OR VietVet]

i had the picsss!!!! they didn’t post. pls hold. i absolutely TOOK PICS bc yeah i wouldn’t believe me either pls hold

????????????????????????

 

[denalilex]

& why, yes, that

is the back plug really that bad?

makes me wonder if it's harder on the non hybrid trucks. I don't remember any extra hassle when doing mine.


amazing a plug still fires with 300k lol.

i didn’t find it to be all THAT bad. but then again, these plugs were changed by its PO (half-assedly, “changed” is debatable here)… so the wires were the ones without the metal heat shield & spring contraption thingy & from what i’ve gathered - that’s the part that’s difficult because it like locks on & it pretty much needs a special tool to release it but GM made theirs wider so the tool barely works anyway mixed with the fact that the space IS very tight.. i can see how that would be dreadful.. but not “f it - leave it in for 310k” kinda dreadful lol … i have small, very skinny hands & fingers so i was able to wedge my hand between the trans dipstick tube & the heater core lines & pull it off but like i said - i didn’t have to worry about the metal shield giving me hell. i was able to fit a 1/2 ratchet with a 1/2 - 3/8 reducer & deep 5/8 back to it without an issue & take it out. i couldn’t fit my digi torque adapter back there tho & i have a serious grudge against clique torque wrenches so i hope it doesn’t blow out that would suck but anywho… that’s what i did. lol

dude. 310K… can you believe that? i can’t. i am trying to distract myself from the thought process of “hmm. they’re not supposed to go that long. at all. i’m going to google damage of driving on a failed spark pl——-… stop” lol. it’s like webmding yourself but worse.

 

[denalilex]

????????????????????????

LMAOO DO YOU SEE THEM OR SHOULD I OVERNIGHT THE PLUG TO PROVE THIS DISASTER THT IS MY TRUCK ugh lmao

 

[Geotrash]

LMAOO DO YOU SEE THEM OR SHOULD I OVERNIGHT THE PLUG TO PROVE THIS DISASTER THT IS MY TRUCK ugh lmao

Me no seeum.

 

[Fless]

They're in post #6. Now. You're welcome.

 

[Geotrash]

They're in post #6. Now. You're welcome.

Now I seeum!

 

[Fless]

#8 is not that bad... @Rocket Man shows the easy way:

What did you do to your NNBS GMT900 Tahoe/Yukon Today?

Changed the oil. 25k on the freshened engine/trans combo. Still mostly stock tune:)

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

 

[OR VietVet]

LMAOO DO YOU SEE THEM OR SHOULD I OVERNIGHT THE PLUG TO PROVE THIS DISASTER THT IS MY TRUCK ugh lmao

See them now. Does not look like a 300k miles plug.

 

[Rocket Man]

#8 is not that bad... @Rocket Man shows the easy way:

What did you do to your NNBS GMT900 Tahoe/Yukon Today?

Changed the oil. 25k on the freshened engine/trans combo. Still mostly stock tune:)

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

#8 ain’t bad. Unless you throw headers in the mix. Then it’s pull the inner fender liner time.

 

[Doubeleive]

those shields and #8 are easy with the right tools
the shields can be handled with a set of these, bought the set of 3 orange handled ones from harbor freight probably 20+ years ago, come in handy for all kinds of things
the mildly curved one (far right) is perfect for reaching in and grabbing the shield and walla it is off and out of the way
don't even know how many times that same plier saved me for other things over time
#8 plug just needs a socket adapter i use a adapter to bring it down to 1/4" and then put a breaker over a little 1/4 ratchet and easy as it gets.

 

[denalilex]

See them now. Does not look like a 300k miles plug.

i agree - but this was a limo prior to being mine & all service records are in the glove box & on carfax…. plugs were only changed one time …. so it really is lol… i thought the same thing. but compared to the others - it is the worst one. the wire is burnt on the inside also … i try to take care of my engine - i got it with 250 … one iridium spark plug tuneup would add up to those miles. & #8 being acdelco with the iridium GM part # … it’s factory

 

[j91z28d1]

it definitely looks like it's been in there a long time. I believe mine had 140k on them when I changed them and yours looks more worn down. take a while to do that but honestly I don't think it hurt anything. looks pretty good.



if your missing any of those metal heat shields around the plug wires. I like replacing them. they work very well. probably not 100% needed but I still do.


as for getting to it, I'll share a pic of the only spark plug socket I actually like.. it's a koken, made in Japan. last place left with any sense of craftsmanship in their hand tools. it holds the plug in without the rubber insert that gets lost and without a magnet. their hand tools are like holding jewelry lol. this, I nice flex had 3/8 ratchet and of all things the cheap black, (I can't call them impact) extinctions from harbor freight. it has this little 1in in the kit that I sware comes in handy weekly.

 

[B-train]

Those plugs are a B I T CH. I was trained by my dad to do the job COMPLET, so I've cussed all the GM engineers on all my LS motors and my LT motor. With some patience, and good mechanical aptitude it can be done, but sucks.