Hey guys, I'm trying to replace the plugs in my 94 Jimmy but one of the plugs (middle one pass. side) is in there pretty good. Is it safe to use an extension on the wrench to get more leverage?

 

yes, but as with ANYTHING you do, be careful! if you snap the old plug, boo hoo, its going in the trash anyway.

if you snap the one you plan to put in... not so much

if the center plug is frozen, step back take a break and come at it with a fresh eye...

i used an extension AND a knuckle on #3. i used a 6" or 8" extention on i think #5 on the P side. you will be fine. if that doesn't do the trick, give it a light shot of pb blaster, and tap it gently with a screw driver handle to help it penetrate.

you'll get it. just stay positive!

 

depending on how good your "feel" is, i've even had to use my 18" pipe on my ratchet-i slip it over the handle for leverage.

now, i've had this pipe for 15 years or so, so i have a pretty good feel for it. plus it fits over the ratchet handle perfectly, so there's no slop in the ratchet.

but like Curtis said, it doesn't matter if it breaks coming out, but you may want to run a thread chaser through the hole before the new plug goes in.

 

Be careful. I broke a plug off leaving only the threaded portion stuck in the engine. I used an easy out to get the rest of plug out. Worked like a charm. I bought the truck used and I think those might have been the original plugs.

 

And when installing new plugs, use anti-seize compound on the threads.

 

use the "Copaslip" from Molyslip, the best stuff out there.

 

if you chase the threads with a tap , be sure that you dip the tap in grease before you use it in your head ... the coating of grease will catch the metal shavings so they don't fall into the cylinder , instead they'll stick to the tap and all will be good.... i do this at least once a week on motorcycles

 

thanks brother.

funny how we can forget to put in the simplest steps when posting for someone else to do it, and yet we'd never forget to do that step when actually doing it ourselves. (great trick when installing a Heli-Coil kit on a stripped plug hole ).