Hello, it’s been awhile since I’ve posted, but looking for some help. I have a 68 Firebird with original 400 and original factory air. Trying to do my own mtce on tune up and looking for assistance on best way to go about changing the spark plugs. The plugs on the driver side of motor are simple, but the plugs on the passenger side are not accessible due to AC being in the way. What is the easiest way of getting at those plugs?
Thanks, Jay

You get to all four on the right side from underneath with the car raised. The two in front you can access through the wheel well, under the rubber splash shield once the wheel is hanging down. The back two you have to get to from under the car. On mine, the back two have very little clearance between the plug and body. I cannot get a socket with a ratchet wrench on it so I use a socket with a hex head and an open end wrench. It is not terrible but not fun either. (If I recall, it may be possible to get three changed from the wheel well but I always have done only two. You can look and decide.)

The good news is you don't have to move or remove anything to get to them.

I got underneath the car and was better able to see the spark plug wires and plugs. I was able to get one plug out quite easy, but the front plug has a big metal bracket around it and I can’t get the socket on the plug. Also, the two plugs near the rear, I also can’t get the socket on these plugs because there is a plastic housing in the way (housing has something to do with the AC). Using a 13/16 deep socket. Any ideas to simplify this.

My plug socket looks like yours. Have you tried working just the socket onto the plug? It should go over the thin end of the plug coming at it at an angle.

For the front one by that bracket, I put a short extension on the socket to better hold onto it. Approach the plug with the socket at an angle and by the time you get to the hex the socket should be far enough on that you can straighten it up and push it onto the plug nut. There should then be just enough room then to put a longer extension and a ratchet on it. Just be careful putting the new plug in. I put the plug into the socket and carefully position it into the engine. I try not to drag the electrodes over any crud that could get pushed into the cylinder. Then make sure it treads way in before tightening it down. I can imagine the grief of stripping the threads.

Those two rear plugs were what I was referring to before. You cannot use the ratchet wrench on those rear plugs because of the lack of clearance. Put just the socket on the plugs and you should be able to get an open end or box wrench on the socket's hex head.