Q&A

Hey...I am a grandfather, an engineer, & a back yard mechanic's back yard mechanic & am handy around cars...having rebuilt numerous engines since I was 16 years old, but I tell you... there are several thousand asking the same question!So far, all answers are similiar & read: "The 6 GM sparkplugs on the 3.8 L engine cannot be changed without using the GM special tool J-38491. Procedure is as follows:...turn one half turn...etc. & using the special GM tool J-38491 ...etc.etc. Neither the aircraft type spark plug heat shield, nor the spark plug wire can be removed unless you use this tool.

The tool you are mention is not for the spark plug...its for removing the boot. Since you are doing the plugs way early the boots should come off without too much trouble. Useally by the time we are doing them once the car reaches 100k the boots are done because of all the heat and need to be replaced when the plugs are replaced...thus the tool is not needed. But if you want that tool you can order it from : Kent-Moore J-38491 Spark Plug Boot Remover

Thankyou my friend... but even before I get to the boot plug end, I must remove the most excelent, well designed..aircraft type heat shields, which closely surround each spark plug & plug wire....but... it will not pull off & I do not want to force it....or is that what is required...more force? How does one grab the heat shield... with pointed vice grips? You are correct...the plugs I read last for +100,000 but I already bought the very expensive $23 each special plugs & hate to not install them.

They won't go bad...save them for later when needed....belive me there is no need to do them this early...when the have 100k on them they still look new. Or exchange them for something you do need.