Was able to get around to a plug change yesterday... All in all I have to say it wasn't *THAT* bad. A very big to Chuck's Lightning Page , as it is the BEST resource for all the tools you will need.

Here's the plugs (bottom of pic is the front of engine, left row is passenger side)


On with the GOOD:

* Only took about 2 hours + breaks, Could have done it under 2 if it wasn't so hot outside.
* Most plugs were in pretty tight, only a couple came out easier than they should have...
* 7 of the 8 32,000 mile factory plugs I pulled were perfect. Perfect color, and gaps were right on .042".
* Was able to get at all the 7mm coil bolts out using extensions and popping off the injector plugs (makes life SO much easier)
* New .038" gapped BR7EF plugs went in without incident, all spun in easily without cross-threading.
* No skinned knuckles or bruises

The BAD:

* Some plugs were in BARELY hand tight
* The 3rd plug back on the drivers side looked pretty ugly (Pic, below) - Was this a LEAN condition??
* Advance Auto parts had to order the plugs - nobody in St. Louis carried the TR6 or BR7EFs...had to wait a day for them to come in.
* Some coil ends had hardened oil (?) on them? and some plugs has some hardened oil around the threads?

The TIPS:

* From Chuck's Page : You really dont need the 1/4" drive, 1/4" breaker bar or 1/4" extensions - just use a 3/8" to 1/4" adaptor at the end of your 3/8" extensions - worked fine for me for all the 7mm coil bolts. Had no issues removing any of the bolts.
* Be sure to DEFINITELY get a magnetic pickup tool - it was invaluable in getting the 7mm bolts back into their home... There's other ways to do it, but this was by far the fastest and easiest.
* Have patience - all the plugs can be pulled with the 5/8" spark plug socket attached to a 3" extension, then a Univeral, then as many extensions as you need. (See my tools pic on the next post). Be sure to electrical tape the spark plug socket to the extension and universal - they tend to pop off pretty easy.

Here's that bad (?) plug - was this a lean condition, or what? if you look closely, the ceramic is chipped and cracked a little as well...



Hope this helps some others... It's really not a bad job, and definitely worth the time. I know the truck feels better since I replaced them...but have only driven it about 40 miles...

More pics in My Gallery.

-Jeff

 

Here's the major tools I used...

 

That is a wierd gap for a plug that cold.

 

Too narrow? I didn't want them missing with all the hot weather in the midwest...

 

duct tape baby

 

If you use Scotch 33 tape, you can tape (just barely)
the 7 mm screws to the socket swivel. Works great
and is more secure than the magnetic thing. The tape
will pull right off the screw when your done ...

Easter.... I gap the BR7EF's at .036 ...

 

Check out this site for a spark plug analysis with pictures.

Spark Plug Analysis

 

by the looks of that spark plug,that cyl has a oil comsumption problem

 

There's a few cylinders with that same thing some had oil specks all over the coil boot.

May talk to my mechanic at the dealer about the oil issue... see what he thinks... (he's been pretty good about the mods in the past)

 

if you have several spark plugs looking like that,you know the cause of that is the pvc syst.

 

a friend of mine has ALLDATA at his shop and it says for the supercharged 5.4 (read=lightning) to remove the fuel rails to change the plugs?

 

come on you dont need to do that extra labor, i wonder how long he is been doing this & how much he will charge to change them

 

well the only plugs he has changed on a lightning were mine. well he didnt really do it...he kinda helped. he also says removing the rails is really easy. I dont know, i have never removed a fuel rail before. how hard is it to take off the fuel rail

 

I looked into pulling the rails, but figured that was more time involved, and was able to work around it... boy, to think, I'm *NOT* ASE Certified or anything and did a faster, more efficient job than most mechanics can do

 

i removed the fuel rails once. not an easy job as it is a pain to get them lined up right going back on. if your not carefull you could shear one of the injector o rings as well.