whats wrong with using a spark plug thats spec'd to factory specs???


listen to GLC he knows what he is talkin about

 

Very well could be the case, I bought it used with 85,000 miles on it.

 

What are you talking about? I wasn't arguing with GLC, he pretty much said the same thing.

"Champion and Brisk make 1 piece plugs for the original 3v's, but they both have their downsides too"

Is that not pretty saying none of them are perfect?

 

im sorry i assumed when you said "these trucks" you were talking about the triton motors in general

for the 3v no, either way a plug change will be a nightmare

my apology

 

No problem, its sometimes hard to get what people mean in text.

 

Just like to clear this one up for you boys.

The 2v head was redesigned for 2003 and went from the 4 threads of the 97-02 head to 8 threads in the 03-04.
My truck has the 8 thread heads. Te recommended torque for the plugs in the 2 valve heads is 13ft/lb.

 

Okay, that's old news to be clear.

That is incorrect and also "old" news. Actually previous spec was 12-16 foot lbs. Currently, the 2 valves new value specs 28' lbs. Value has been reconfigured/determined professionally. 4 thread heads withstood 100 ft lbs of torque via testing. If you use the "old" torque value, you increase your chances of a possible blow out.

 

Most 03 f-150's still had 4 thread spark plug holes. I have an 03 engine in my truck with a build date of 10-02 (03 model year). When I got it I checked and it only has 4 threads.
I wouldn't feel to confident you have the newer heads from what I've read people who have looked for the new heads in 03 F150's say they are really rare.. the only way to know for sure is to remove a plug. You can see how many threads the head has looking at the plug. I've heard the very end 03's got them. BTW I torqued mine to 28 lbs dry just like the TSB says and any one who knows about the TSB who dose not torque them that way deserves the inevitable blow out.

 

Yea, that's right,- only some 03's were updated, - most wern't. I haven't heard of anyone having a set myself. Well, until now I guess.

 

Every class of engineers have to have 50% that graduated in the bottom half. Every class has to have ONE that graduated last. He's the duffus that designed the 4 thread heads and they kept him around long enough to do the 2 piece plugs too. I'm not sure they didn't loan him out to do some engineering and body design for a few of the competitors just to level the playing field before they finally sent him to the unemployment line, not near soon enough!

 

I definately have a set of 8 thread heads. I know this because I checked the first time I ever changed the plugs. I change them at the begining of every race season and I've not had a problem yet even at 16lbs of boost.

My truck has a build date of 06/03 btw.

 

That's probably why. You have one of the very last 03's off the line. With 8 thread heads, I guess you can get away with 13 ft/lb but if it were my truck, I'd be bumping them to 28. If you are changing them annually, you don't have them in there long enough to loosen by themselves.......

 

That's good to know. I know of few people that were searching for those heads. You wouldn't know the casting # off hand would yuh ? Probably not, just thought I'd try lol.

Regardless, I would crank them down between 1/2 to 3/4 turn after seat dry / wet reduce x 30%, but I wouldn't really bother with anti-seize, -even with a 8 thread (not saying you use it). I thought they went with 9 threads, but you would know.

Anyway, that's really the proper way cranking down the tapered plug. See what you come up with as far as torque. I was around 21' lbs @ 1/2 turn, - heads have 270,000 miles without a blowout problem.

 

Here's the info I have from Ford. I can't verify this at all so take it as you will.

Supposedlly any heads manufactured after November 12, 2002 were redesigned 8-thread heads
Seeing as Ford builds lots of parts ahead (see what I did there?) of time, early build 03 trucks got "old stock" heads and engines.
Note, I'm talking about the build date of the heads and engine here, not the build date of the truck.

Casting Numbers you say? Look on your driver side head and look for



Individual Part No's for the 8 thread heads are.......

2L3Z-6049-DA (Left)
2L3Z-6049-BA (Right)

I suppose the only way to know for sure is to get a Boroscope and have a look at what you have. I have full access to a machine shop at work so this wasn't a problem for me personally.

In all honesty, I've never used a torque wrench for tightening the plugs. I install them with the lightest coat of anti-seize and go about half a turn over hand tight with my 1/2" drive ratchet. When I take them out, I count the number of turns and make sure I have the same going in to ensure that they aren't cross threaded or bottom out early. Belive me, on the supercharged engine, you don't want to screw this up

Hope this helps

 

Thanks for the info! Yes, part #/casting #.

Saved your info,-so you'll get the credit when the question pops up. -



Been looking for those numbers for quite awhile

Thanks again.