I have looked all over this forum for any threads about this, and have yet to find anything specific to this.

I have the aftermarket pacesetter stainless headers and they have a connecting plate that bolts all of the manifolds to the engine block.. The thing is the plate comes up almost to the spark plug ( heat shield removed ), and I can't get a socket or thin spark plug socket around the spark plug to remove it.. Has anyone else run into this or have a special way to remove the spark plug short of u bolting the headers?

 

I think I remember one member mentioning this, and he had to grind on the header flange to gain clearance.. but, that's been a while ago. Your only choice may be to unbolt the headers. You will have to replace the gaskets....

 

I have Pacesetter LT's, and I do not have a clearance issue... I can't speak for shorties.

 

Yea let me redact the pacesetter reference above.. These are the shorty eBay stainless headers . I thought when I posted this that they were pacesetter replicas, but there is a big difference. . Yea it looks like I'm going to have to remove the headers and grind them down . Dammit I wonder why these idiots didn't think of this when they made the things.
I wonder if loosening the headers and using a thin wall socket will give me any mercy getting these plugs out.

 

while we're on the subject of header issues. Anyone have any suggestions on how to deal with a broken #7 spark plug? Can't tell if the head is stripped or not by lack of not being able to see the spark plug and can't get the tube to breakaway from the head

 

#7 is easier on my van than your truck but if you can give the tube a tap or 2 then get a bite on the end with some channel locks and do some wiggle n jiggle you should be able to work it out and pull when it busts loose. The tube has a slot all the way down it's side so a squeeze to compress it on the outter part close to the head with some jiggling may help too if you can get a good angle on it.