Spark Plug Change 964

[Newsboy]

After reading about the difficulty in getting access to some of the plugs, I decided to take the car to my friends shop and use his lift and his help to change the plugs.
The procedure would have been much more difficult, if not for the Porsche spark plug tool(comes with the car) or can be purchased for $44.00. This is a wobble type tool(wobbles in the center), that allows you to bend it so it can be inserted into the cylinder head recesses to reach the plugs. It has a knurled disc at the end, which lets you turn the plugs by hand once they are broken free. And lets you hand start them back in. It also has a good rubber gripper inside which hold the plugs securely. The top part of the tool(l-handle), was pretty useless, so we made our own version The knurled end has a recess that accepts a splined end. So we took a spline(one end hex the other spline) and cut it short enough enough, to provide clearance. We epoxied the hex end into a socket that would receive a 3/8ths inch drive. So, the procedure is to insert the wobble part of the tool, with the made up spline/ socket then insert a flexible head 3/8ths inch ratchet.
Even with the tool, clearance is still tight.
You could do this procedure with jack stands( not ramps since you may have to remove the drivers side rear wheel), but a lift makes it easier.
We started on the lower plugs 1st. They rear sheild must be removed(appox. 8 hex head bolts) On the passenger side, you have to remove the muffler/tailpipe, which gives you access to a heat shield type box, which is held in place by hex screws. After removing this, you can get to the plugs with a long extension.
The drive side was pretty much the same, except that there is a heat shield which must also be removed. Because one of the bolts holding the heat shield in place was stripped, we had to remove the rear wheel to get the muffler out. (you might not have to)
Changing the top six plugs was harder and requires some patience. Small hands are better than big ones. The hardest plugs were the foward passenger side, because it is under the power steering pump, and the rear drivers side, due to clearance.
We to tightened them by feel(appox. 20 Ft. Lbs.)and used antiseize on the threads( even though Porsche says to install them dry). I'd suggest replacing the spark plugs wires as you do each plug, so as not to get them mixed up. The whole procedure almost 4 hours. So now were good for another 30K. Hopes this is of help.