Tune Up Tomorrow

So, tomorrow the whale gets a shave and a haircut...erm. Wait, that might be me. The whale gets a nice full tune up (for the parts I've not done)...

Cap, rotor button, plugs and wires...and maybe the oxygen sensors (not sure yet, may wait). She's also getting a bath, and thorough scrubbing (wet sanding and buffing) and a nice wax....


That said, does anyone want me to snap any photos or video? I'll be happy to do so. I know the back plugs most likely will have to be swapped from under the car.

Parts:
ACDelco plugs and wires
BWD Cap and rotor (hey, I sell the things, I should use them - and the warranty is a lot better than the ACDelco stuff!)

As for the cleaning materials, I'll let you know tomorrow - need to pick up some compound and wax. Though I will be cleaning under the hood too...which always goes perfectly or horribly for me, lol! Oh and I have to replace a bunch of those stupid retainers around the spare tire, tired of that "thwaping" sound from the cargo area.

The oil change was done last month, the air filter and the pcv were done in May I think...but I will check them. And the fuel filter is less than a year old.

If anyone wants/needs to see anything, let me know, will be happy to try to oblige.

Wow.  I didn't mind that cylinders 7 and 8 had to be done from UNDER the freaking car.  I didn't mind that cylinder 4 is a VERY tight fit (turn wheel to far left, go in from behind the wheel).  
What I did mind was the engineer who thought it would be a great freaking idea to put one of the distributor cap screws against the freaking firewall.  What in the H E double hockey sticks was that person thinking?  (For the record, a quarter inch swivel socket (7/32 I think...) on a 1 and a half or 2 inch extension and it becomes a bit - umm - less of a PITA.  I do believe the parts I removed from the car were original.  Yes, 21 years and 65,xxx miles on plugs/wires/cap/rotor.  

That said, this was my first experience on a car that it was easier to do the wires than it was to do anything else.  As a second part to this - it may have been a ton easier if I had a lift.  The ground and a hilly driveway does not make the job any easier.  (Note to self, call Tim before next job that requires going UNDER the car.)  I will edit in pics shortly, am a bit sore/stiff from the awkward position my little big rear end had to contort and stretch to do the distributor cap.

Here are the spark plugs that came out of the car....

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I have other pics, but it's very hard to point out what I was shooting (hey, I was under the car removing spark plugs!) so they are sort of useless.

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I think its time. BTW I stopped by your office. Ryan assures me that he taught you everything you know..... well maybe not exactly what he said. LOL!

BigBlackBeaSSt wrote:

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I think its time.  BTW I stopped by your office.  Ryan assures me that he taught you everything you know.....  well maybe not exactly what he said.  LOL!

LOL! I was disabled for a decade, so I didn't even open the hood of a car in that time. But I noticed the more I needed to diagnose something, the answers were usually pretty straight forward. By the way, that little hesitation when starting seems to be fixed with the tune up. After seeing the old plugs - I sort of know why now.

A "sort of new" neighbor just moved back in the house around the corner. He just got a TBI caprice and put a used tranny in it, but cooling lines are rotted out and blew out all the fluid. Hope it did cost him the tranny..

Now that just sucks. I hope it didn't do too much damage.

I know lt1 f-bodies are bad on the plug changes. Are the lt1 B-bodies bad too?

Not sure on the TBI cars, but LT1 cars are not bad with stock manifolds.  I miss those days!!

Did you put headers on?

Haha, no I did not put headers on....yet! I do still have to do the oxygen sensor, and the wash/sand/buff/wax. I was too worked up over the stupid distributor cap. I didn't have a 2" extension, so I fought and fought, till my neighbor brought me a 1" extension and I got it to work out of pure willpower.

Headers will be most likely after the first of the year. I am not sure where I'm going next on it, and ...I do like that stock look and feel....

Yeah stock....  

woot!

I thought it was pretty easy to get at the back screw on my dizzy cap with a really small screw driver. Now getting to the stupid hold down bolt is another story. Of course if I had a angled ratcheting wrench it would make the job easier.

I got it tightened properly today. 7/32 quarter inch deep socket with a 2" extension. Of course I had to buy a set for the socket. So I bought the metric too! Lol.

Also, the engine was degreased after work today, but I need to hit 3 spots a bit better. If Sunday afternoon is nice, I'll wet sand and buff.

You may want to also put in a new ICM. I had two TBI car's blow the ICM after a tuneup.

Saw and heard Chris's car tonight. Runs like a top. Holy cow that is a clean car!! Inner fenders are amazing.

BigBlackBeaSSt wrote:

Saw and heard Chris's car tonight.  Runs like a top.  Holy cow that is a clean car!!  Inner fenders are amazing.

I think later today I will give the parts I missed a good cleaning (under the hood). And thanks! By the way, the hood ornament stays.

Now, we need to get your beauty figured out.