Okay GURU's...... non Mustang

[rpmcarter]

2008 F150.... tune up. So the highly respectable shop everyone is cheering about? SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS to replace the spark plugs....and that is IF they dont break any !!!!!

guess i'm gonna do a tune up

 

[OLE PONY]

I'll do it for $600 if you drive it to Virginia!

 

[c9zx]

This should get you started. Ford TSB 08-7-6. Chuck

 

[jb73Mach]

As long as you're coming to VA, I do it for only $500 - more if I break any

 

[Kit Sullivan]

It is a simple job if you have the special tool to remove broken spark plugs...a very, very common occurence on these engines.

Murphy's Laws of Probability guarantee you will have broken plugs if you don't have the tool. But, get the tool and you will likely have broken plugs anyway.

Ford has a few TSBs on this, but does not cover the expense of a broken plug. Take it to a Ford dealer for the tune up...they surely have the tool.

 

[rpmcarter]

Thanks C9

Oh and you Virginny boyzz .....I actually told my wife I should just take some time off and go up to VA. I have a good friend that lives in Concord/Lynchburg area. He is an former Ford dealer mechanic and a HUGE Ford fan. Has a 73 GTS Torino.

Heck we can all get together...I can afford to travel there and back fix the truck, buy everybody Lunch and dinner for 650.00

 

[judge]

Done several 5.4 3v. Get the tool. I think mine was made by Lisle or something similar to that name. Piece of cake with the tool. Cost about $100. Well worth it.

 

[Doug The Dog]

I did a decarb service to my F150 before i replaced the plugs. It's carbon build up that causes the plugs to get stuck and break. Replaced all 8 plugs and didnt break a single one. My truck had 95,000 miles on it when I changed plugs. Total investment (including tool, decarb service and plugs), $300.00

 

[rpmcarter]

Done several 5.4 3v. Get the tool. I think mine was made by Lisle or something similar to that name. Piece of cake with the tool. Cost about $100. Well worth it.

iS THAT ALL? I was expecting some huge price tag on the tool,....done! I looked over the doc's that C9 (thanks again) offered and call it done.

I'll get after this project next weekend. Thanks GUYS.... oh and you two crazies from Virginny!

 

[MeZapU]

You can even rent the tool from stores like Autozone or Advance Auto. Then take it back when you are done.

 

[Mister 4x4]

Wow. Guess I won't b!tch about the fact that my '97 Ram still has a cap & rotor then. rofl

We saw lots of those broken plugs, lots of broken plug tools, and lots of broken broken plug tools at the Auto Hobby Shop. The shop bought a tool, someone used it, broke the all-important center 'stab the broken plug' part of the tool, and then it became worse than a crescent wrench (which is another almost useless tool).

Good luck and be careful with the tool - it's not made by Craftsman, Matco, or Snap-On... which means it's made to be pretty much disposable after a handful of uses.

 

[rpmcarter]

It's pretty bad when I've been messing with cars for years... and the rumors caused me to question "should I do it" ....the time worth my time? but when the numbers bolt past 500.00.... I questioned the "heee let somebody else do it" theory. My wife's Accord V6 needed its first timing belt. I raised the hood wedged my hand between the shock tower and front of the motor...thought wow those Japs got little hands..... and commenced to FIX'n IT! It was tight but as i moved throught the process I picked up the tricks to doing the job.

 

[cudak888]

Wow. Guess I won't b!tch about the fact that my '97 Ram still has a cap & rotor then. rofl

As the babysitter for one of the little "emasculated 318" 3.9L V6's, I have to agree.

In fact - as much as I don't want to admit it - Chrysler's fandangling of the LA series into the Magnum multi-port injection engines ranks up there as one of the nicest and simplest MPFI systems I've seen - with minimal wiring and vacuum lines to boot. It's a shame that someone can't fandangle one of these systems onto a Cleveland-based block with minimal modification. These are cheap at the junkyard, and new Holley systems are NOT.

It is a whole lot nicer than popping the hood on a 5.0 Fox, or similar-era Crown Vic or Grand Marquis. Those things have 3 times the wires and vacuum lines as you'd find on a '70s Ford smogger - and the smoggers already have enough to keep you busy for weeks.

-Kurt