i just tried to remove the valve covers on my desoto hemi, looks to me like i have to pull the spark plug tubes first, does anyone have a trick for pulling them there in there preetty good.
MR. FORD just went through this. Had to yank em hard. I believe one guy made a tool somewhat like a bicycle stem that wedges in there and you can whack it out. Oh and I'm not sayin nuthin but they wont come out unless you pull the plugs. Once again, I'm know I'm just stating the obvious but you never know....
Mine were stubborn as well. Take the spark plugs and valve cover bolts out. Wiggle the cover and tubes loose as one piece, seperate later.
Wow I must have been really lucky. They slid out like*****er on my 53 Desoto, which had never been rebuilt. I'm starting a hot rod**** toy business.
so i pulled the plugs and the tubes came right out, i'm in the process of cleaning the tubes and reinstalling them, looks like carbon on the tube bottoms and i bet oil was getting by, maybe the old girl will stop smoking.
Make sure the plugs are real snug when re-installing. I use Champion 58's (RJ18YC) and remove the little metal rings to get the plugs all the way through the head...
I can't believe this but I'm having a hard time remembering reinstallation of these things. The way I have it now is the rubber seal slides up the tube, tube goes in, and metal washer goes on top of the rubber seal. Something doesnt seem right because I don't remember the washer being so loose. Is this right? EDIT: I think I found my answer http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/0705sr_chrysler_331_hemi_motor/index1.html
That's the correct answer! If you don't want to use the wire covers you can "peen" the top of the tubes until the washer will compress the seals. If you don't do either of these you'll lose A LOT of oil...
(I posted this in another thread, but still looking for answer) Why is it such a damn mystery ? Cannot find out if the spark plugs for a 1956 Chrysler NYer 354 are short (3/8) or long (3/4) I ordered what was supposed to be the correct ones, and rec'd Champion 63 RJ14YC; which are the 3/8" length. But when the old #1 plug was removed, it was the 3/4". Summit shows a variety of plugs; https://www.summitracing.com/search...6-in/year/1956/make/chrysler/model/new-yorker Other searches for the info come up with the RJ14YC (14 heat range) and also RJ18YC (18 heat range) Both are 3/8" reach ?? My son even looked on chatgpt and the results also vary; but lean to the 3/8" Tempted to just put the shorter ones in, but would like to know for sure
Do the early Hemis have the tan coloured Bakelite insulators? Or just long rubber spark plug wire boots?
Most have the tan Bakelite insulators. In dozens of early hemi's, they are all I've every seen. There are white ceramic insulators available as well. Maybe someone else has an insight on those.
Found these in a stash I had to go through. Seems I bought these as a replacement a long time ago for the broken ones in a Boss 429 engine.
My '52 331 came with white ceramic. I found Accel long boot wires fit perfectly. Sold thew glass ones on ebaY. Here is how I eliminate the need for the wire pans. Mashes the rubber donuts for a perfect seal. These are steel tubes but works for aluminum too. View attachment 6555425
I posted in the Hemi Tech Index what it is, best i recall it's short on round ex port heads, yours will be long on the oval ex ports, from the '54 shop manual. Can't hurt to double check the Index.
Pretty sure my 331 had long tips. I traded them for 354 truck heads a couple years ago so don't remember for absolute certain but am pretty sure they were long reach.
'54 331 4V & up have oval ex ports, 51-54 2 bl have round ex ports and use short. Talking car hemis, other 2V engines check the ports.
I take the spark plug with the tube, that way debris that may be in the tube won't fall into the cylinder. Insert in reverse order, put the plug in the tube (no washer), I attach an old wire boot on the plug as a handle, insert and turn, remove boot "tool" and proceed. The old boot makes removal easy as well.
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