Yep--he got new plugs today.
![Wink ;) ;)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Start-to-finish, the R/R took just a tick under four hours for plugs, UVC harnesses, and a new GPR but there were a lot of interrruptions so if I had to do it again and could work continuously, I could probably have the whole thing done in 3 hrs. or so. I ended up using a piece of 7/16" hose since that fit best over the hex-shaped area of the plug and that trick worked VERY well. Fortunately, the plug ends hadn't mushroomed very much and they all came out easily so my major fear re: this job never panned out and so he should be good for another 10 years now.