So...they say Ford has a better idea? I don't think so, at least in the case of changing plugs on a 4.6l.

I just bought this '97 F150 about a month ago: 30,000 mi; love the truck so far, but there is PITIFUL little room to work on the engine, at least compared to my previous K Blazer and 97 Extended cab Chevy (both with 350s).

The Chevys were EASY to work on: lots of elbow room around the engine and easy to change plugs. I admit the oil filter was a pain in the !@$!, but at least it was possible with a little effort.

It seems the price I paid for the steep windshield rake and the OHC in the F150 is that the plug job looks just about impossible as half the engine is tucked under the windshield cowling.

If that wasn't bad enough, yesterday when I pulled a cable on the only plug that was fairly easy to get to, what do I find but that the plug is buried another 3" deep in the manifold. Couldn't even see the tip except with a flashlight.

Now, I don't care who says it, but no plugs last for 100,000 mi, and even 50,000 is pushing it. I've often said that when I can't change my own oil and plugs, cart me off to the nursing home...so it looks like that's where I'll be taking up residence. I wouldn't take less than $100 to do a plug job on one of these things, and I bet I won't find any shop that would do it for less.

So...sorry about the rant, but this 4.6l plug configuration really sucks. Anyone attempted this work (sober)? How big a pain is it? Is it even possible to get to the rear 4 plugs?

Any feedback is welcome; help would be even better. Other than this issue and the slushy trans shifts (worst since my 62 Chev powerglide), I really like the truck.

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'97 F150 Supercab XLT; 4.6l; 3.55; ABS; 17" whls; dual exhaust; Waldoch Conversion (Custom Paint/graphics, powerslider rear window; walnut dash trim; overhead console; F'glass 'boards); fiberglass bed cap; towing package; JVC Head unit & 12 disk changer; Prince compass/temp RV mirror; Anti-theft.

 

Get your neighbor drunk and get him to change them for you.

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98 SC/XL/4.2/5 speed/3.08/MoonLight Blue Metalic/Mobil One Synthetic/235.70S.16 Michelin XC LT4/AR-136 Wheels/Chrome Nerf Bars/Bug Shield/Aluminum Tool Box/K&N/Superchip/NOS maybe.

DAMN FLEXING DOOR CRACK!

Ford Engineering, reinforce the curve in the door! The cracks will stop.

 

Lots of us here in the site have changed our own plugs...You need a dozen COLD beers, (preferrably Labbatt's) and the usual assortment of sockets. And a box to stand up on. 30,000 miles is a little early, but you'll probably notice an improvement. I would recommend you do wires too, if your budget can handle both...get your wallet out!!! these parts ain't cheap. You need to remove the air tube to the throttle body, and the throttle body cover. The plug wires are much more of a bitch to change, 'cause of all those NASTY looms. I used a machinst's "hook" scriber to unclip them. Be careful when pulling off the boots, 'cause I pulled a wire right out of the boot. It was REALLY stuck. Blow air down the hole to clear the dirt out before removing the plugs. Don't be afraid of unplugging the injector harness, if it's in your way, either, they are easy to re-install. Just do each plug one at a time, and start with the worst one. (Pass. side rear, under the battery)I installed dealer plugs & wires, and would not recommend the wires, they aren't what was on the truck from the beginning. The stock plugs were okay, but wires weren't EXACT in length, and weren't numbered. Apparently, NGK makes a premium wire, (I heard about them, after bitching about the dealer Motorcraft ones) that are numbered, and are supposed to be a very close match. There's also various aftermarket performance stuff, some people here say Bosch platinum 4 plugs work good. Another tip: Disconnect the battery when doing this "tune up", so the computer can "relearn" the new parameters (more fire) quicker.

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'97 S/C XLS black/silver 157" WB, 4.6/auto, 3:08, home made custom stainless tube grille, terminator muffler, phantom sweep wiper switch(factory installed), a few billet aluminum goodies (the list grows), airbox mods, TPS tuned
email: bazils@hotmail.com
http://content.communities.msn.com/bazilspix/PhotoAlbum

 

I agree, these trucks are not easy to work on, but I do most of my own maintenance. I changed my plugs about a month ago. It took only about an hour with the right tools. I had a swivel adaptor, some good long extensions and a spark plug socket (of course). #4 and #5 were the hardest, the rest were not too bad. The power steering reservoir was in the way of #5, but I was able to work around it.

As for the oil, it took me a while the first time, but after that it was not too bad. Now, I get the oil filter off by jacking the truck up enough to get the wheels off the ground, then take the oil filter off by reaching over the drivers side wheel. Works for me.

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'97 F150 4x4 Off-Road Extended Cab Lariat Flareside white/tan, tan leather, 4.6, 3.55

Duraliner bedliner, Husky floormats, Custom seatcovers (I only cover the leather when I'm really dirty, though), Premier single-lid toolbox

Gibson 2.5" split-rear exit cat-back exhaust, K&N Air Filter

Many more modifications to come

http://ocu-stars.okcu.edu/cvenable.stu/index.htm#b

 

Well, you should only change the plugs once or twice in the life of the truck. When you look at it that way it isn't too bad. I've got the V10 and you think your V8 is hard to work on... I bet 6 of my plugs are under the cowling.

 

It's not as bad as it first seems. If you take a little time up front and take a couple a bolt's loose from the power steering reservoir, you can swivel that out of the way. Also moving the cluster of vacuum lines out of the way helps. After that, the driver's side is cake with a couple good extensions and a piece of string to tie around the top of the wire boot to give you leverage on getting those off. Then the pass. side is fairly open except for the far back of course, he's the only real bear. So set aside a couple or three hours on a pretty Saturday afternoon, and it shouldn't be too bad...

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1997 F150 XLT Flareside
4.6, Auto, 3.55, custom catback
Pioneer DEH-305, Alpine 3547, 12" Kicker Comp.

 

Dear jaymz,

As you can see from the responses you've seen already, F150online is theplace for information onm our beloved FoMoCo vehicles! Lots of people with plenty of tips on how to get this and many other things done.

Once you sift thru all the tips and advice you get here, etc., and tackle the job, let us know how it went, and which tips seemed to help you the most.

Just another example of F150online's value.

Best of luck with your truck,, and if you'd like to have those shift characteristics improved, please feel free to give us a call, we can help you with that.

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Online Superchip ordering system:https://www.f150online.com/scpp/index.html