Nothing real to add here. Just like to say #3 wasn't too bad for me. I just used a stubby 3/4" wrench on the hex of my spark plug socket. Took some time, but it worked.

 

did u go from under or over the engine? because i cant fit crap past that shield it has coving it from the manifolds.

 

Spartan, being in a tech class I'm surprised that haven't yet taught you that the fastest and easiest way to do plugs on a lot of vehicles with normally mounted engines is to go in through the fenderwells. On S-10s and Blazers you can get to all the plugs even without taking the tire off. Plus, it's a straight shot for the sockets, so you don't even need a swivel. The #3 plug is tough to get to but on 2wd vehicles at least you don't even need to pull the steering shaft. (a 10 minute procedure unless the boot ripped and it's all rusted to heck)

As far as the plug being dark, a fuel issue may be the problem, or you could have a bad wire, worn cap and rotor, or just a plain old plug that was gapped slightly more off than the others.When I was getting random misfire codes in my truck, the cap and wires needed to be replaced.

Don't ever know what happened to the thread starters vehicle because what he described about the cam being 14 degrees off doesn't make sense at all, and it sure doesn't make sense that you would only get a misfire on one cylinder if the timing was off for all the plugs.

 

Thats one thing we noticed, the gap on the dark plug was more like 1.20 lol. But we have been going over electrical systems (alternator,head lights etc.)and now emissions and before that we started out with building engines, we never really learned about sparkplugs execpt how to gap em etc. Ill go check the fuel pressure at the injectors today, ill try the steering trick and see i if i can get it out..