I have a rumbly...

[82ColEd]

Stefan- you really need to find or make a friend in the US military. AAFES stores sell American car parts and are open on Sunday. Wolfgang Kaserne is open 7 days a week in Hanau. PM me. I still know people over there!

Good one Johnny..
:duhI should'a thunk that.. My current boss is ex-Mil.. He probably knows peeps in and around Frankfurt and the local AAFES. Let me ask him tomorrow first. Appreciated !!

If it means not getting to work, you could always put the plug base back in and run on 7 cylinders. Just pull the #5 plug wire off at the distributor for the short term.
It wouldn't be any worse than my Vette with 2 rounded cam lobes when I got it.
Just make sure it cools off before you put the new plug back in, then wait until it's convenient to do the rest. Once you have a new set of plugs in hand, who cares if you snap all of the old ones off.
Make sure you hand thread them in most of the way to avoid cross-threading.

Mmmmhh.. I'll put it in and see how it runs (without the dist #5 in), if it's bad, i'll take the train, thank goodness, now we live in a city where we have public transport. Though i dont like it, it's available when needed. Thanks for the tips. I'll make sure to hand thread them in there.

All things considered, Stefan, a broken plug isn't the worst thing in the world. At least you got it out without stripping anything! And replacing worn plugs is just regular maintenance of the car...

BTW...unless they seem to be really cheap steel, a 2-ton jack and stands should work fine for the car. You car doesn't weigh anywhere near 4000 lbs.

Keep positive!

Good point. The one i looked at, looked a bit cheap-o (Made in who knows where). I shall look around for a 2-ton then.

I'll make sure i'll one of those before heading in for the night. Thanks Andre!

stefan

that gap looks huge

be sure to check the new ones! never trust a package

Yep, i was thinking that. I havent measured it, but it looks more then the 0.045" that i am supposed to have.

Thanks to you all for the chin up.. Makes me feel much less bad (Gawd*, is that even proper english ? :L ).

Attitude adjustment received, thanks Gang!

 

[TMPJoe]

stefan

i went to my client and good buddy's body shop today to pick up my engine stand and some spot weld drill bits to get the sons car project moving finally

while i was there i looked at a 911 supercharged that got into the wall last weekend here at watkins glen.. and i got to thinking.. here i am standing in small town USA looking at a porsche that someone plays with... and there you are in frankfurt playing with a vette...

its all good!

 

[82ColEd]

Alright: Much better day today.

Started off crappy: I was trying to get to the US Parts place at lunch and maps.google.com sent me to the wrong section.. Crud, after an hour of walking around, back to work (by train). ad

But, left work an hour early (Thanks boss!), Wifey picking me up and went to www.mnf.de Mike & Franks US Car Parts.. I had called them in the morning and when i asked about spark plugs for my 82 Vette, he said "R45TS? Sure, no problem, got those." :cool

So, we have 8 R45TS (AC Delco!), got 2 Air Filters (Mine were cruddy) and 4 2-Ton jack stands. And while i was there, i found the perfect toolbox for the garage too (I've been looking for one after the move). :J Even the prices were not too bad, given that they usually gauge people here for this stuff, 1 spark plug was 2.23 Euro, an Air filter 6.61.. I had expected much much more.

Also, the guy checked for IAC Gaskets: Nope, not happening. So i bought a big strip of Mr. Gasket gasket material to fab more bubba-fied IAC Gaskets. I might go into production with those. :W

So: The new additions:

After the kid went to bed, i took the leftovers out of #5 and put the new one in, by hand.. Mmmhhh, doesn't look right.. Took it out and compared the two heads: They are a teeny bit different, in that the head (above the thread) isnt as big or tall as the old ones, but else they are a match. I even measured the distance, and yes, it appears to be 0.045"

So, back in it went, tightened it up (not full tilt, just as much as i could get it) and while i was there, did #7 as well. Same thing, doesn't go all the way in, it appears.

Replaced the Air Filters.

Fired the car up and it sounds "normal", ie. back to slight shakes as before. NO bad gas smell or missing.

I will drive it tomorrow, unless you guys say no.. ;help

Otherwise, it's off to the store for a 2-ton jack tomorrow or Wednesday and work is planned for Thursday (Holiday here). :cool

 

[82ColEd]

stefan

i went to my client and good buddy's body shop today to pick up my engine stand and some spot weld drill bits to get the sons car project moving finally

while i was there i looked at a 911 supercharged that got into the wall last weekend here at watkins glen.. and i got to thinking.. here i am standing in small town USA looking at a porsche that someone plays with... and there you are in frankfurt playing with a vette...

its all good!

Yep, it's all good.

 

[TMPJoe]

well get the rest of the plugs in there and i hope the plug wires are in good shape too...i.e. not too old.... thats the only other thing that might give you intermittent shakes and bobbles

 

[82ColEd]

Allrighty: The issue is (WAS!): Fouled plugs on #4 and #5..

Here are the bad boys lined up, top row is driver side, bottom passenger. To the right is the front of the engine (ie. numbers 1 and 2):

Yes, i managed to brake 3 out of 8 plugs. Thats the non mechanic part in me. .:eyerole:L

It now idles smoothly, no more shakes. Cold at 900 RPM, in gear about 700. When it warmed up initially it ran around 700, then before putting it back in it went down to 550 idle. And smooth as silk. Even the throttle response is much better. It felt like the car had much more power all the way from the light (No kidding.. )

:J

So: A Hearty THANKS to you all. Learned a lot along the way and the car is better off now. Still have to make IAC gasket's out of the gasket material i bought, but that should be small potatoes now



-Stefan

 

[Evolution1980]

So lemme just get this straight...after everything you've been through, you think it was just the plugs?

We must now assume(?) you never bothered to check them before any of this started happening?!?!? :bash

General maintenance on your car, bud! Check your plugs every now and then! They are a great indicator if your engine is running well or not! :cool
I suppose you don't ever check your tire pressure or oil level either, huh? L Ok Ok...now that's just mean of me! :L)

 

[wishuwerehere82]

So lemme just get this straight...after everything you've been through, you think it was just the plugs?

We must now assume(?) you never bothered to check them before any of this started happening?!?!? :bash

General maintenance on your car, bud! Check your plugs every now and then! They are a great indicator if your engine is running well or not! :cool
I suppose you don't ever check your tire pressure or oil level either, huh? L Ok Ok...now that's just mean of me! :L)

No, the original problem was that the Idle was really high, and uncontrolled at operating temp.
And occasional stalling was also happening.
All in all, the new CTS, IAC valves, and plugs have got it running good again.

Success!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Evolution1980]

No, the original problem was that the Idle was really high, and uncontrolled at operating temp.
And occasional stalling was also happening.
All in all, the new CTS, IAC valves, and plugs have got it running good again.

Bah! I stand by my original statement of "Why not just get a carb from a 1980 vette and call it a day???" :L

Ya know I'm happy ya finally got it runnin', Stefan!

 

[82ColEd]

So lemme just get this straight...after everything you've been through, you think it was just the plugs?

We must now assume(?) you never bothered to check them before any of this started happening?!?!? :bash

General maintenance on your car, bud! Check your plugs every now and then! They are a great indicator if your engine is running well or not! :cool
I suppose you don't ever check your tire pressure or oil level either, huh? L Ok Ok...now that's just mean of me! :L)

Ass.U.Me all you want.. (And yes, in case of the plugs, you are correct).
meany..

Yes Yes.. I know what you mean.

No, the original problem was that the Idle was really high, and uncontrolled at operating temp.
And occasional stalling was also happening.
All in all, the new CTS, IAC valves, and plugs have got it running good again.

Success!!!!!!!!!!!

Couldnt agree more. Not JUST the plugs but that coupled with the IAC, CTS and the EGR Valve make it running very smooth. It was a real joy to jump on the pedal this morning. Thanks again Pete !

Bah! I stand by my original statement of "Why not just get a carb from a 1980 vette and call it a day???" :L

Ya know I'm happy ya finally got it runnin', Stefan!

I know, those old timer Computer guys just dont like the CCC. I know yer just being YOU..

(Seriously for a minute though: Could you imagine me ripping off all the stuff to throw on a carb? Oh boy hnoes). So, the ECM/Computer keeps us non mechanics running..

 

[hotshotzny]

we are talking about an original 82 correct, with the crossfire..... so swapping out the fuel injection while not impossible is far from an easy fix! i know i looked into it... out of curiosity did you change fuel pumps! made a world of difference putting in the 85 fuel pump to my car!

 

[82ColEd]

Correct original 82 CE x-fire..

I dont really have an issue with the cross fire, need to do more maintenance on it, but overall, in the 15 years i had the car, it is and was fairly trouble free..

I dont think the pump has been changed, it hasnt been in the last 15 years. I was reading here, and on the 82CE board that people have done it. Your thread included. Makes me want to do it. But getting it to run right was 1st priority and i need to let the checking and the wife relax for a month before it continue to get stuff for the car.

We shall see.

 

[hotshotzny]

Correct original 82 CE x-fire..

I dont really have an issue with the cross fire, need to do more maintenance on it, but overall, in the 15 years i had the car, it is and was fairly trouble free..

I dont think the pump has been changed, it hasnt been in the last 15 years. I was reading here, and on the 82CE board that people have done it. Your thread included. Makes me want to do it. But getting it to run right was 1st priority and i need to let the checking and the wife relax for a month before it continue to get stuff for the car.

We shall see.

i highly recommend it..... it made a world of difference to my car.... it idled rough....sputtered and spit when ya punched it..... in general it ran like crap..... changed the fuel pump and WHAMO runs like i imagine it was meant to back in 1982!