Once again, I've very wet behind the ears when it comes to automobiles. I've just picked up a little info. here and there from reading forums and hearing people talk. So I'm curious about spark plugs. Would replacing the stock plugs make my truck run better? If so, what kind should I get? My truck is approaching 90k miles, so I'm sure it's not operating at peak power. I'm just wondering what kind of stock parts I should replace to get it back up to par. I'm also thinking that I should get my fuel injectors cleaned. You know, the normal maintenance stuff-- what should I do? Any help would be appreciated!

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1990 F-150 4x4 XLT Lariat, 302 V8, 2 tone grey, regular cab, short bed, Delta diamond plated toolbox, 4.10 gears with rear limited slip, shorty headers, "40 Series" Flowmaster exhaust with dual 3" chrome tips, K&N air filter, great Alpine cd player, modest amp, subs, and tweeters, custom 15x8" rims, p.o.s. 31x10.50" a/t tires, and a silver and grey Ford trailer hitch cover.

Future mods. include a 1.5" front suspension lift, 32x11.50" muds, a superchip, thinking about intake, and a paint job!

[This message has been edited by TF (edited 03-14-2000).]

 

Hey TF...noticed you'd posted earlier about more power and by the looks of your signature, you've done a few mods already. Hopefully you've had some kind of maintenance schedule already, but if it's tune-up time then, yeah, some new plugs would help put that zip back into your 302. Don't know if you've had past problems with your stock plugs, but there are Platinum, Bosch, Accel, and countless high performance plugs available. Time to clean and re-oil the K&N filter? New wires yet?Any idle problems, clean the IAC valve up. As far as cleaning the injectors up, you can use any popular gas additive injector cleaner with good results. If you think they're clogged up or extremely dirty, they make a pressurized injector cleaner that screws directly into the fuel lines and unpluging the pump relay, will let the injectors receive a thorough DOUCHE(sorry gals ) of cleaner.

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1993 F-150 4x4 5.0L EFI 5spd. Silver Shortbed..Kelly Safari AWR tires,K&N Air filter,Cat-Back Exhaust. Soon to get: Improved Ignition

 

Johnny MC, well to answer some of your questions, the headers, K&N, and the flows were already on my truck when I bought it. Besides, those are pretty much the basic mods. that everyone starts with-- K&N, exhaust, and headers. The only mods. I've done are the cd player, the toolbox, the trailer hitch cover, and I took off the running lights. Nothing to do with the engine or drivetrain. Actually, just before I bought it, I took it to a Ford service center to have it checked out. Just after I bought it, I forked out over $500 for some new hoses, shocks, tyrod, windshield wipers, battery and terminals, master cylinder, etc. to make sure it was in decent order. But I've only had my truck for 7 months now, and I've put on about 7k miles. So it's hard to gauge how will it's running since I never drove it when it was new. Do you know what the normal track record is as far as tuneups go for '90 F-150's? I wouldn't say it's been hot rodded or stressed any more than usual. It hasn't been off road very often, and I don't know about the 2 previous owners, but I try and keep a light right foot, though it's hard to do sometimes! Once again, thanks!

 

Oil change should be at 3,000 miles. Some guys do a spark plug and wire change on a yearly basis. That is how I've learned the most about my truck. Posted a few questions, read & searched the archives, bought a manual and just got to it. Monitor everything and check hoses, belts occasionally. You'll find info here from front to back and everybody is usually pretty good about helping you out......

 

you don't know the age of the plugs? I would pull a plug and look at it. If it looks really rough, burnt and etc, replace them all.

Another cheap way to gain extra hp (throttle responce) is to do the TPs mod, advance your timing, and gap your spark plugs.

[This message has been edited by Pastmaster (edited 03-15-2000).]