Ford has a new head with threads in them to fix our Lightnings ???
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From: Selden NY
Ford has a new head with threads in them to fix our Lightnings ???
Originally posted by Buzz LightYear
After countless Sparkplugs ejecting out of 5.4s, it appears Ford has redesigned the Windsor heads. I work in the service department of a local dealer and we see at least 4- 5 5.4s that have spit plugs out a month. ( At Least 90 % are Lightnings ) Well today another Tech called me to show me that the threads on the head Ford sent to fix a vehicle were threaded all the way thru. I dont know when this change took effect but this head had a casting stamp of Dec 2, 02. It appears to have a total of 10-12 Threads now.
Buzz
To infinity and beyond
After countless Sparkplugs ejecting out of 5.4s, it appears Ford has redesigned the Windsor heads. I work in the service department of a local dealer and we see at least 4- 5 5.4s that have spit plugs out a month. ( At Least 90 % are Lightnings ) Well today another Tech called me to show me that the threads on the head Ford sent to fix a vehicle were threaded all the way thru. I dont know when this change took effect but this head had a casting stamp of Dec 2, 02. It appears to have a total of 10-12 Threads now.
Buzz
To infinity and beyond
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From: Richmond, VA, USA
interesting indeed. I saw this thread too. I wish I had some tools here at home, I'd go pull a plug and coil to see if the '03 comes with these heads (if they exist).
sounds too good to be true?
later,
chris
sounds too good to be true?
later,
chris
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From: Palm Coast, FL
A new head with more threads might require a different plug, depending on how it is cast. I tell you what though, a new head with more threads would have another benefit. The spark plug would be able to transfer more heat to the head for cooling with more surface area contact with the head. That would be nice 
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From: Da Dirrty South
Originally posted by Blown93
New heads would be peace of mind for daily or long trips... shouldn't have to worry about breaking down with a new truck.....
PEaCE..............
New heads would be peace of mind for daily or long trips... shouldn't have to worry about breaking down with a new truck.....
PEaCE..............
I was just outside of Gainesville when mine blew and i live in Ft. Lauderdale!
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From: Richmond, VA, USA
allright folks, I just got off of the phone with ford. here are some facts, but still a little unclear info.
There IS indeed a revised cylinder head for the 5.4L engine.
It was described to me as having 80% more thread area than previous versions.
These heads began being produced on the 12th of November, 2002.
These heads SHOULD be standard equipment on 2003 trucks.
However, there is no guarantee, because just because your truck was built after November of '02, that doesn't mean that your cylinder heads were. Even your engine build date doesn't guarantee that your actual heads were cast after Nov. 12th.
Here is the unclear part that conflicts with the first info presented in this thread.
They say that they don't think that when an earlier model truck that enters a dealership for repairs it will receive these updated heads. They say that even if an '03 truck were to have a problem, there is no guarantee that it would receive these heads in a repair situation.
The reason for this is that all new production heads are specified for new model production. meaning that all of the heads that they can produce are going onto new trucks before they will stock shelves for repair jobs, in addition to that they say that the existing inventory of old heads would have to be used up first.
This doesn't explain how Buzz Light Year over on NLOC saw these heads in his shop though? but apparently, his info is at least mostly correct. THERE IS A NEW HEAD with extra threads! Unfortunately, you MAY NOT be able to get them if you need them
Believe me, my truck will be coming into the shop at lunch to pull a spark plug and see what's going on in there.
I'm a little afraid to look and be dissappointed.
later,
chris
P.S. Ford says that they are not even sure that the spark plug launching problem is due to the heads only having 4 threads.
They also say that tightning and loosening the plugs and tightening them again (recommended about 3 times doing this) will help properly seat the plugs and reduce the chances of a blown plug.
There IS indeed a revised cylinder head for the 5.4L engine.
It was described to me as having 80% more thread area than previous versions.
These heads began being produced on the 12th of November, 2002.
These heads SHOULD be standard equipment on 2003 trucks.
However, there is no guarantee, because just because your truck was built after November of '02, that doesn't mean that your cylinder heads were. Even your engine build date doesn't guarantee that your actual heads were cast after Nov. 12th.
Here is the unclear part that conflicts with the first info presented in this thread.
They say that they don't think that when an earlier model truck that enters a dealership for repairs it will receive these updated heads. They say that even if an '03 truck were to have a problem, there is no guarantee that it would receive these heads in a repair situation.
The reason for this is that all new production heads are specified for new model production. meaning that all of the heads that they can produce are going onto new trucks before they will stock shelves for repair jobs, in addition to that they say that the existing inventory of old heads would have to be used up first.
This doesn't explain how Buzz Light Year over on NLOC saw these heads in his shop though? but apparently, his info is at least mostly correct. THERE IS A NEW HEAD with extra threads! Unfortunately, you MAY NOT be able to get them if you need them
Believe me, my truck will be coming into the shop at lunch to pull a spark plug and see what's going on in there.
I'm a little afraid to look and be dissappointed.
later,
chris
P.S. Ford says that they are not even sure that the spark plug launching problem is due to the heads only having 4 threads.
They also say that tightning and loosening the plugs and tightening them again (recommended about 3 times doing this) will help properly seat the plugs and reduce the chances of a blown plug.
Last edited by superfords; Jan 8, 2003 at 11:28 AM.
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From: Plymouth, MI
Originally posted by superfords
P.S. Ford says that they are not even sure that the spark plug launching problem is due to the heads only having 4 threads.
P.S. Ford says that they are not even sure that the spark plug launching problem is due to the heads only having 4 threads.