Having now committed to paying shop prices for the list of repairs in my previous post (by the way, since they had the front of the engine torn apart for the water pump, they did the T-belt for the (retail) cost of the belt only), I am ready to minimize my pain by relearning some DIY skills.

The car is a 1983 GL (normal aspirated gasoline engine). I suspect the car is past due for spark plugs and an air filter. I tried to look at the air filter, but frankly haven't been able to open the little housing for the air filter far enough to remove it, for fear I'll break something in the process. Can anyone offer any tips on how to open the housing without breaking the surrounding parts?

Regarding the plugs: I've got a spark plug socket; is a torque gauge of sort critical in tightening the replacement plugs, or do I just do it by feel like I did on my '65 Plymouth Valiant? If I do the plugs, should I automatically do the Distributor Cap and Rotor? (The car has 80,000 miles on it, and I am unsure if that has been done anytime in the recent past).

Thanks for your insights.