Re: Pre-Install Jitters

From: Josh Battles (josh@omg-stfu.com)
Date: Sat Jan 03 2004 - 15:33:04 EST


Peter Grace wrote:

> 1) The plugs don't have angle boots on them, and it's like they've got a
> shroud surrounding the plug -- will the JBA wires still fit in there?
> I'm not sure if that's standard or not (I'd assume so, but it just seems
> weird -- I take it a plug socket will fit right into the shroud.)

They should be straight boots on them, correct? As for the shrouds
around your current plug boots, they're pretty much useless unless you
like helping dirt collect and fall into the cylinders. After you remove
the wire, pull the shroud out with some pliers (it helps to twist a bit)
and shoot some compressed air in there to blow all the crap out of the
way so it doesn't go into the cylinder.

> 2) How the heck do I get at the cap and rotor? They're at the back of
> the compartment! Do I have to pull the engine out to change them? Or
> do I have to remove the air hat and crawl right into the engine
> compartment? What's the best angle of attack for that?

Pull the airhat off of your TB, it frees up a bunch of room. It takes
about a 12" #2 phillips screwdriver to remove the cap. Just remember
where the orientation of the number 1 on the cap is.

> 3) The back drivers side cylinder is a little hard to reach behind the
> brake thinger-ma-bob (That's the master cylinder, right?) Is there a
> trick to getting at that one?

I think you're referring to the big black thing on the firewall, right?
  That's actually called a brake booster and it's right behind the
master cylinder. And to answer your question, no there's no easy way to
get in there. I've found that the spark plug socket with no extension
gives me the best angle there.

> I'm about at the point where I'm going to wuss out and make the family
> mechanic do it instead.. Like I said, I'm an aspiring shadetree, but
> I'm wondering if I'm going to break something instead! It's almost like
> I need to get my mechanic over to my house and hold my hand! :P

Naaa... You can do it. Just take your time and don't feel pressured.

-- 
- Josh
Lowered 2000 Dakota CC 3.9L
www.geocities.com/lenny187/dakota.html
www.omg-stfu.com



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