Changing VE/VZ spark plugs?

[blackve76]

Not really that hard.

1. Remove the intake piping from the throttle body
2. Theres 8 bolts on top of the intake manifold. Remove all but the front right bolt and the rearmost left bolt. This will allow you to lift the manifold to remove coilpacks and spark plugs. You dont need to remove it completely, just lift it up. Leaving those 2 bolts in prevents the 2 piece manifold from seperating and possibly damaging the gasket.
3. Remove coilpacks then plugs.

Note. The rearmost right side bolt is a bastard. It sits low like the front left bolt but is harder to get to being under the plenum. Youll need various length 3/8th extensions to get at it and on the VE it helps the lever up the plenum and jam a block or something in there to allow you to angle the extension into the area that the bolt is in.

Old thread but that bolt is a bugger apart from that easy as, lot quicker to do the L98 but......

 

[LuminaME]

I replaced the spark plugs in my VZ commodore yesterday and it was very easy. It took about 40minutes to do in total.

As has already been said you need to remove all the manifold bolts and lift it slightly to allow you to remove the coilpacks and plugs.

So ... many guys said the upper IM doesn't have to be removed completely, and the job only requires levering/lifting intake manifold to gain access room above coils/plugs ... Question is how much "slightly" lifting of intake manifold is required? any approx measure of lifted height?

Since I have Mace intake inslators, which already lifted upper intake manifold by 12mm, I'm thinking if the job can be done without further lifting requirement!

 

[commodore665]

So ... many guys said the upper IM doesn't have to be removed completely, and the job only requires levering/lifting intake manifold to gain access room above coils/plugs ... Question is how much "slightly" lifting of intake manifold is required? any approx measure of lifted height?

Since I have Mace intake inslators, which already lifted upper intake manifold by 12mm, I'm thinking if the job can be done without further lifting requirement!

Actually , it probably does not need to be lifted much if at all

 

[Emmcee1]

Do u have to remove the manifold on an sidi aswell for plug change? Or can you get around it?

 

[LuminaME]

So ... many guys said the upper IM doesn't have to be removed completely, and the job only requires levering/lifting intake manifold to gain access room above coils/plugs ... Question is how much "slightly" lifting of intake manifold is required? any approx measure of lifted height?

Since I have Mace intake inslators, which already lifted upper intake manifold by 12mm, I'm thinking if the job can be done without further lifting requirement!

Bump for any figures to answer!

 

[one_and_only2004]

cool...silver is too common though...im leaning towards red so ill see how i go...gotta get the money for it yet

You're the one with the spacer - surely you can measure this yourself?

 

[Budley05]

Thanks

Not really that hard.

1. Remove the intake piping from the throttle body
2. Theres 8 bolts on top of the intake manifold. Remove all but the front right bolt and the rearmost left bolt. This will allow you to lift the manifold to remove coilpacks and spark plugs. You dont need to remove it completely, just lift it up. Leaving those 2 bolts in prevents the 2 piece manifold from seperating and possibly damaging the gasket.
3. Remove coilpacks then plugs.

Note. The rearmost right side bolt is a bastard. It sits low like the front left bolt but is harder to get to being under the plenum. Youll need various length 3/8th extensions to get at it and on the VE it helps the lever up the plenum and jam a block or something in there to allow you to angle the extension into the area that the bolt is in.

Been umming and aaahing over whether to change them myself for months and the whole split the manifold and break the gasket had put me off until I saw your post here and another thread saying to do it with the bolts left in front and rear.

Took just on an hour first go, neighbour told me this morning it was a **** of a job, he came over when i was doing it and he didn't know to lift the whole manifold.

Signed up just to say Thank you Ricey, you're a champion that saved me some cash. Beer time :drink:

 

[All5litres]

So if you're not splitting the manifold and lifting it as one piece that bugger of a bolt at the back doesn't need to be undone right? Also I only have 4 bolts on the top of my manifold (not counting the front left one that stays put) not 8 as Ricey said...bit confused and could use some help.

 

[parramatta hox]

The my12 plastic manifold is definitely narrower than the alloy vz-early ve commodores shown on you tube.
There's no need to take the manifold off. Just remove the coils and replace the plugs.

 

[Nowwework]

I never had to take my intake manifold off my alloytec to do plugs thats in 2011 calais not heaps of room but it can easily be done wasnt prepared to risk damaging the gasket i think its just most people prefer to lift it to give them more room