i run the iridum plugs in mine, runs just fine

 

I went looking for the stock copper Champion spark plugs today fpr my 05 Hemi and the advice that I got from both auto parts salesmen was to change to platinum plugs.

At each place, they said that their computers instructed them that it was recommended not to get the copper plugs, but to change to the platinum. I have read that some people have had problems with platinum plugs not lasting very long. I told the Napa salesman this and he stated that if they last 10k miles then that is good and time to get new plugs anyway.

Every 10 thousand miles? I went to two other places in town and never found the stock copper plugs in stock. I have read that some people like the NGK v-powers. Maybe that's the route to go.

 

I just put the NGK V-Power's in my truck today. I have run NGK on my Stealth and really liked them. In all honesty, I seriously doubt you see much of a difference between Champion and NGK. BTW, I take it that you have never changed the plugs on you truck before... if you do it yourself have a blast with #5 and #7. If you are going to upgrade wires at any point now would be a good time too. I went with the Granatelli (MotoBlue). On my other vehicles I have went with MSD and liked them alot.. can't really comment on the new ones... I have about 5 miles on em. Long story short, I'd personally go with the NGK V-Power.

 

guys save your mony and get the stock champions. cost me less then 2 bugs a plug at oriellies. with two plugs a cylinder you will never feel/notice the difference between platniums etc... i highly recommend the 8.2mm shorty wires as well. i installled the wires first last week and it was a night an day difference except i started gettin missfires but no codes. i changed the plugs the next morning and BAM! she ran like i have never had her run before!!! you can really FEEL the gas pedal more. its like it is stiffer in some way and a lot more precise. anyways sorry to get off topic but thought if your changin the plugs DO THE WIRES! and save the money from those damn exspensive platniums and get the champions!

 

Newbie question, how does one go about changing plugs on an 05 hemi. Is there any special considerations ? I have never done it before and think it is about time to have them done. Is there anything i can seriously screw up ? thanks

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ya you need a long extender, a short extender and a wable bar (short little atachment that has a hinge on it) and a spark plug socket. the left bank is easy enough (passenger side) and for the one closest to the firewall i removed the heater hoses in that plastic clamp and pulled them apart and stuck the wrench in between the hoses. for the driver side ( get some bandaids) wear gloves if you have them and the 2 and third cylinder (counting the first cylinder on the driver side as 1 and the last on the driver side as 4) area pain. i held the sparkplug socket in my finger tips and atttached the short extender to it then the wable bar and pushed it all together once it was in the cylinder head. then i also took the combined pieces apart(wable bar then extender)once the plug was loose and slowly pulled the old plug out (reverse for new plug install). the cylinder closes to the driver side firewall was just a pain because well im 6 foot but damn my arms sure arent! its a stretch but very doable. pm me if you need more help but i think i have pretty well covered it all. Oh and you will need a 10mm socket for the coil packs. I would start on the driver side bank first as it only gets easier from there. other than your knuckles there isnt much to screw up considerin you are gentle with the new plugs and dont over tighten them and break the porcilan. oh an DEFINATLY us a lot of anti-sieze as you will be cursing yourself the next go round if you don't. I bought a big tube of it for a few bucks at autozone compared to a bunch of those lil packets and i still have 80% of the tube left.

 

What is the advantage of the shorty wires besides a cleaner look? Are there any disadvantages?
Looks like I will have to mail order the plugs. I called or went to about 10 auto parts stores and nobody has the Champion or NGK v-powers in stock.

 

What must the plugs be gapped too?

 

Gap the plugs at .045. That is the stock setting anyways, on the 5.7 anyways. You can alway check by popping your hood and looking at the sticker attached to the underside of the hood detailing your emissions system. It will tell you which plug to use, or equivalent of, as well as what to gap them at. Other may have other opinions, but I'd go with the stock gap at .045. The general rule is, the wider the better. You want to go as wide as you can without "blowing out" the spark.

 

Dean hit majority of it on the head. In regards to the height thing and reaching the rear plugs. I'm 6'4" and it still a stretch, I climb up in the engine bay and have a seat . The only thing to be careful of there is taht you do not step on or, bend or break anything (think AC lines and brake lines here). In regards to the rear plugs on the driver side, number 5 and number 7, Leave the number 5 coil off while you are trying to do #7(closest to the firewall), taht way you have more room to work. I actually didn't use any kind of a wobble bar or anything of this nature, mostly because I hate them and end up beating my knuckles half to death with them. So basically I used two short extensions and would drop the socket in the whole follwed by the extension. Then I would lock the extension into the wrench but not pop it into the socket. When it was loose I'd pull the extension and wrench and use a small telescoping magnet to get the socket and plug out. And then do the reverse order on the way in(that way you dont drop the plug and ruin your new gap). I'd also recommend taht if youa re changing the plug wires to do them one at a time rather than grabbing a handful and yanking them off and replacing all at once. If you do forget where a wire goes look on the wiring tray, it will be labeled with which plug goes to which coil. The only two that are a pain are the number 5 and 7, after that it's a breeze. BTW, I did notice a nice change with aftermarket wires over the factory wires. I'd definitely change them while you are in there.