that they'd like to rent me to help finish the spark plug install? looking for one with really long flexible arms and tiny but stong fingers and hands. changed plugs 1-4 last night.... **** **** **** **** **** **** ****! this is ridiculous. #1-3 took me about 45 minutes, #4 took i think 2 hrs with a trip to the store for more extensions. stoopid Ford engineers! or is everything like this designed as such to get you to take it to the dealership so they make XXX money on labor?

please tell me the drivers side plugs are easier than the pass side?

 

Sounds like you just need some practice. I've gotten where I can do mine in 40 min, but I usually take about an hour or so if I'm taking my time.

I usually use a 3" and a 6" extension and a swivle joint on a 3/8 ratchet and that will get them all used in various combinations. For the drivers side it's extremely helpful to have a 7mm swivle socket for the #7 coil pack.

 

you, my friend, are a freak of nature

yeah, i got a 7mm swivel socket, which i did use on #4.... if you put your extensions together and make a 2 foot extension, you can actually watch the socket go onto that bolt! i was so excited to see that.

next time i change my plugs I think i'll rent a hang gliding harness, strap myself in, and swing over the engine bay from an engine lift.

i will try to exercise a little more patience tonight. after 2 evenings of putting water pump in the daily driver without the proper fan removal tools, i wasn't up to the plugs task.

 

If you had that much trouble on the pass side? Just give up now. The drivers side is definately harder.

Although, I am glad to see Lightning owners under there own hood. Even if they call me "stoopid".

Rich

 

While the plugs on the driver's side arer harder to get to (thur all the wiring, FI runners, power steering pump), the plugs on that side DO tilt forward rather than rearward, like the pass side.

I also have a 4.6l 1997 F150, and although it doesn't have the plug-on-coil clike the 5.4, they really aren't all that hard to change...if you don't mind bloody knuckles, that is.

Jim

 

Wydopnthrtl helped me last Saturday with my first spark plug change.
He tackled the passenger side and I did the drivers side.

We were neck to neck until we got to the third plug. That 3rd plug back on the drivers side took me probably 2 hrs. It wasn't the plug that was difficult, it was that damn 7mm coil bolt!

The last plug on the drivers side took about 10 minutes, it was easy.

Drivers side, 3rd plug back --> PITA!


Thanks Rich!

 

I guess my 5'7" 160lb body was a blessing, it has never took me more than a few minutes to change mine out. But ofcourse this is standing in the engine (e fan) with all the "tools" handy!

 

just find a friend with small hands:

 

I want a helper-monkey






p-r-a-y- -f-o-r- -m-o-j-o- - - - - -

 

brian's going send me his helper monkey, then i'll send it straight to you after the install. shipping ain't that bad on a 90lb 3'x2'x2' box.

 

ok, got the driver's side done last night. was about the same difficulty although i did cuss more. i didn't throw any tools though. This job I think would be virtually impossible without the recommended 7mm swivel socket and a magnet tool.

#7 was a pain, on par with #4, and #8 wasn't a walk in the park.

truck runs great. btw, my NGK TR6's were pre-gapped at .037, which was nice b/c that's exactly what i wanted them to be.

 

i gues you can just send the helper monkey back when she comes in the mail. just don't forget to feed her first.

oh, and by the way, my screen name is BRAIN not brian.

my name is glenn.

 

Has anyone tried those madenterprise coil pack bolts? A few people say they are great, and make the process a heck of alote easier. The have a site it's [madenterprise.com] i'm thinking about trying them out, they are a little high in the $$$ department. But if it makes this plug changing nightmare a little easier, i'm all for it.

 

i put them on last time i did the plug change, but i haven't taken them off yet, so i don't know.

i did get them for the intro price, so they weren't too expensively