[Chrysler300] Broken spark plug removal

[Rich Barber <barber@xxxxxxxxx>]

The Granatelli story reminds me of an easy trick I learned the hard way 
in about 1956.  As a teen mechanic in a service station, I was putting a 
new set of plugs in a hemi.  As I recall, I was told not to use a plug 
gasket as the diptube would act as the gasket.  Applying what I thought 
was appropriate torque, I twisted off a plug and panicked.  I thought we 
would have to remove the valve cover or even the head to get it out.

The old-time mechanic simply selected a long, heavy-bitted screwdriver, 
inserted it into the threaded section of the head, tapped it lightly 
with a ball-peen hammer and unscrewed the short threaded piece.  It 
having straight threads and not being in tension, it was easily 
removed.  I presume most of you already know this technique, or one even 
better, but I thought I'd pass it on for what it's worth.

I haven't found a C300 or 300B yet, so have not had my hands on a hemi 
for some time.  What is the proper rule for spark plug gaskets in 
hemi's?  Between diptube and head, between diptube and plug, or just 
left out?  Torque?

MoPa'r to ya from
Rich Barber
Brentwood, CA

dan300f@xxxxxxx wrote:

>Mike and all members:
>
>With the latest interest in the blown 300F, just thought I'd provide a bit of 
>trivia.
>
>In 1988, the other 300 club had their meet in Sacramento.  At the awards 
>banquet, we had a speaker who was very familiar with one page of history of the 
>subject vehicle.  I do not recall his name but in the following I will refer to 
>him as the nephew as he was working for his uncle at the time.
>
>Sometime after Granatelli completed his runs with the Paxton charged 300F, 
>the blowers were removed and the car taken to northern Nevada where it was run 
>for several years testing tires.  The nephew assisted his uncle in running 
>these tests.  He told us several stories that occurred over the testing years most 
>of which I cannot recall at this time.  He told us that over 400,000 miles 
>were logged on the car, 60% at speeds over 160 mph!
>
>On the final day of using the car for testing, his uncle had him change the 
>spark plugs.  Unfortunately, he broke one off and his uncle told him to pack 
>everything up and they would head back to the shop.  On the way back, his uncle 
>did the driving.  At some point along the way, some young men in an Olds 442 
>flew by.  They jeered out the windows at the 300F and apparently challenged 
>them to a race.  That irked the uncle and the race was on.  The uncle floored it, 
>caught the 442 and passed them, all on 7 cylinders!!  The speaker has no idea 
>what became of  the car after then.
>
>Dan Reitz
>Northridge, CA
>
>
>
>  
>




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