changing plugs on an 03
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 1
From: Calgary, Alberta Canada
Set aside about 5 hours for your first time. The process is the same for all 97 to 03's. Do a search you will find all the information you need and an article that explains it all very well. My recomendations are that you do not use anti-seize and torque from 7-16 foot pounds (I used 14), use motorcraft plugs only and put lots of dielectric grease in the COP boots from top to bottom. Depending on your build date for your 03 you may or may not have the updated heads with more threads but unless you have the head off or a way to look down the spark plug tube you won't be able to tell. Good luck.
Last edited by grizzstang; Jul 22, 2008 at 09:28 AM.
Set aside about 5 hours for your first time. The process is the same for all 97 to 03's. Do a search you will find all the information you need and an article that explains it all very well. My recomendations are that you do not use anti-seize and torque from 7-16 foot pounds (I used 14), use motorcraft plugs only and put lots of dielectric grease in the COP boots from top to bottom. Depending on your build date for your 03 you may or may not have the updated heads with more threads but unless you have the head off or a way to look down the spark plug tube you won't be able to tell. Good luck.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 1
From: Calgary, Alberta Canada
Yea I am pretty sure I could do it in 2 hours the next time but having not done it before on this type of motor and taking my time to make sure I did not screw anything up I spent 5 hours on it (including clean up). I have seen several other posts where other guys have been in that ballpark as well. I personally would rather not rush through a job I am doing for the first time. If the OP does it in less time, then good for him, but it never hurts to set aside more time than you may need for the job.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
Set aside about 5 hours for your first time. The process is the same for all 97 to 03's. Do a search you will find all the information you need and an article that explains it all very well. My recomendations are that you do not use anti-seize and torque from 7-16 foot pounds (I used 14), use motorcraft plugs only and put lots of dielectric grease in the COP boots from top to bottom. Depending on your build date for your 03 you may or may not have the updated heads with more threads but unless you have the head off or a way to look down the spark plug tube you won't be able to tell. Good luck.
Yep took me very close to 5 hours .. what a ordeal that was..
morris
Yea I am pretty sure I could do it in 2 hours the next time but having not done it before on this type of motor and taking my time to make sure I did not screw anything up I spent 5 hours on it (including clean up). I have seen several other posts where other guys have been in that ballpark as well. I personally would rather not rush through a job I am doing for the first time. If the OP does it in less time, then good for him, but it never hurts to set aside more time than you may need for the job.
Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 68
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From: UPINYA
The moral of the story is; Slow and Steady WINS the race!
It may not take 5 hours, but, take your time and be patient.
It is not that bad of a job, be sure to use plenty of dielectric grease. I myself do not use a tourque wrench. (I have done enough I feel comfortable without it) Use your own judgement there.
It is also voluntary, but, you may want to consider getting a set of COP's from global, and, that way your only in there one time.
Good Luck!
It may not take 5 hours, but, take your time and be patient.
It is not that bad of a job, be sure to use plenty of dielectric grease. I myself do not use a tourque wrench. (I have done enough I feel comfortable without it) Use your own judgement there.
It is also voluntary, but, you may want to consider getting a set of COP's from global, and, that way your only in there one time.
Good Luck!
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what they make 1/4 spark plug sockets?!?!!
their a performance plug made by global automotive i hear their pretty good...i think im gonna try em.heard there better than motorcraft
