I have a 1978 FJ40 I want to change out the plugs, but they sit deep in the engine and I don’t see the room to get a socket on it ? I’m I missing something ?
Replacing the Spark Plugs - 1978 FJ40
- Thread starter 1978FJ40project
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
What engine do you have?
- Thread starter
- #3
JayDoc
boop/bop/beep
78? Gotta be a 2F right? They make deep sockets to remove spark plugs. I'll be changing mine tomorrow. Can give you the size then unless someone knows it off the top of their head. Mark the sequence of your spark plug wires before you start removing stuff.
- Thread starter
- #6
Please do let me know how it goes for you, I want to do it right. By the looks of it it almost looks like there is a cover to remove so there is better access. In the picture there are some screws that look like the top is a cover ...
JohnnyC
Long ago TLCA# 2231
Sounds like you have never done plugs before in your life... there r no covers to remove
It is best if you watch videos first.... or better yet have a friend who has done plugs before over to foresee you
Download a fsm from trollholes thread
Do one at a time
It is best if you watch videos first.... or better yet have a friend who has done plugs before over to foresee you
Download a fsm from trollholes thread
Do one at a time
- Thread starter
- #8
Great advice ... true I haven’t change the plugs on this vehicle ( but I have on a Toyota truck years ago). But by “cover” I mean over the Park plug area - not the plugs themselves... see the yellow “x”‘a on the attached picture
Krondor
SILVER Star
As others have said. There are NO covers to remove. You pull the plug wires, the orange wires, then use a 13/16” spark plug socket to loosen and remove the plugs. They plugs are not really even that deep compared to other vehicles. I would highly recommend watching some you tube videos or having a friend help you. You gotta start somewhere.
Last edited:
JohnnyC
Long ago TLCA# 2231
The yellow x’s are the cylinder head
JayDoc
boop/bop/beep
You'll be able to remove the plugs with the proper socket - sounds like 13/16th, 6 sided deep socket is the way to go. They can sometimes be difficult if they've been in there a while (like mine) so a little PB blaster and time can help. I've broken plugs before because I was impatient. Which leads me to my main point: don't be me. I'm happy to help but I'm a novice in this world so if someone else says something contradictory to me, you'd probably be better off following what they say.
Looking at your pic, it appears your wires are already numbered. Make sure you keep track as each spark plug position corresponds to a specific distributor output. This is where the advise to change one plug at a time is helpful.
Looking through this section it appears most folks prefer plugs from NGK or Denso and the consensus is to get the cheap ones as there's no consistent benefit to the higher end plugs. Tell o'reily or napa or whoever you prefer what you're buying plugs for and they'll give you the options.
Hope that helps.
btw: from what you've shown, you have a remarkably clean engine bay. Color me jealous.
Last edited:
