[rose_surfer]

Just finished changing the plugs on my starboard 454. After doing so I'm thinking there may only be two types of tiara owners - those that have changed their plugs ONCE and those who who never have.

I still need to do the port engine but I honestly don't know if I can do it because it would mean doing the four plugs on the outboard side with my left hand. It was hard enough with my right.

Any tips to make this easier/doable? Here's what I did?

First I removed the engine hatch. This was hard enough in itself since the hydraulic ram isn't centered but you can't remove any of the fasteners with it closed. So once I started pulling fasteners it started to lilt to one side. Only way i was able to get it off was by supporting it with a rope tied to my hard top and offloading the fasteners. Then very carefully lowering it down and moving it aside.

Once I had the hatch off, the four plugs near the centerline were pretty straightforward. But to get the other side, I laid down on one side half on the deck and supporting myself on the engine with my left hand and was able to reach down and get each plug blind with my right hand. Obviously after an hour or so of this I was extremely sore. Of course I had to be really careful while finding a place to lean on the engine that I didn't lean on a hose or heat exchanger.

Then reversed the process with the hatch and got everything buttoned up. Total about 5-6 hours of "boat maintenance yoga" to get them all.

Any suggestions to make the other side easier? Im really afraid I'm going to cross thread a plug trying to use my left hand.

[Uhehner]

On our 1988 31 Open, I would unbolt the forward hinges,  raise the hatch and place a 4X4 across the opening. Then lower the hatch on the 4X4, disconnect the ram and slide the hatch aft on 2X4's laid on the deck. On the port side the cabin door must be open to make room for the raised center hatch.
A padded swim mat would go on top of the engine to provide a comfortable place to lay on.
Not a fun job but do=able. 
The head is cast iron so it's not easy to cross the spark plug threads. Just run them in finger tight and then snug them with a rubber lined spark plug socket.
If the fuel filter, oil filter and water pump are buried outboard, i suggest you do them at the same time.
Capt.  George

[rose_surfer]

Did you take off the spark arrestor to have a better surface on the engine to lie on?

The 2x4s give me an idea though. I wonder if I could lay a few planks across the open engine hatch, then another one going long way across those. Then I could lay on that across the engine and reach the outboard plugs with my right arm.

[Uhehner]

It's best to remove the carburetor flame arrestor and the stud to prevent damage to it. Then cover the carb with a towel.
Capt.  George