Now,who is the sadistic %$cker who designed this engine! Good Lord,I can't
even see 5 out of eight of them. Is there
any procedures that can help,such as removing the injector plugs or the power
steering resevoir bracket. I have never seen an engine this difficult to reach the
plugs.

------------------
98 F-150 4.6 Litre XLT2wd Ext. cab
prarie tan/tan int.
K/N gen.II fipk
custom dual exh/gibson rectangle tips/rear exiting.
color matched snuglid
Superchip!!!
Westin nerfs blk .powdercoat
Clear front corners
Cobra 75WXST cb w/weather alert
Kenwood cd w/Radio Shack speakers,don't laugh it sounds pretty good
On the way/wheels,tires,air dam, etc..etc.......
doin the monochromatic boogie
on the front end.Billet grilles on order
Hoping for deliverance from door crack hell.

 

Join the crowd! You'll need some type of socket/extension combo that's about 6" long. I used a regular spark plug socket and taped it to about a 4-5" long extension, with a swivel head ratchet. Getting the wires loose is the tough part, but I was replacing those too, So I just pulled on the wire, not caring if it broke. Had to take off the bracket holding the power steering reservoir also (3 bolts). I did unplug each of those 'thingies' right above the plug to get there without breaking something off. There's a whole bunch of threads with different people's combinations of tools, etc. Make sure you use an air blower to remove any water, dust, (in my case a few little rocks!), from around each hole before pulling the wire. And, use anti-seize on the plug threads and dielectric(sp) grease just in case you have to do this again! Have fun!

------------------
'97 F-150 Lariat Ext. Cab 4X4

• White/Silver, 4.6L, Auto.
• Tinted Windows/Bedmat/Toolbox/Lund Bug Deflector
• 265/75/16 BFGoodrich on polished 16x8 AR-136's
• Cat-back Dual Exhaust
• Polar Bear Grille Guard

 

I would caution you against putting the Bosch +4's in! Some of my friend have had problems with them fouling out to quick. No matter how many prongs are on a plug, there will only be so much spark regardless. The main thing is the electrode on the plug and what the core's made of.

------------------
1999 F-250LD 4X4 XLT Supercab, Short Bed, 5.4L, AT, 3.73LS, 33"Wrangler ATS, Custom Dual Exhaust, Custom Air Intake, Superchip, Factory Step Bars, Tinted Windows, Vent Visors, Diamond Tool Box & Bed Rails, Color: Harvest Gold cc "Ready to Farm"

 

were these problems on 97-up 150's, I don't think this would be a problem on a
well maintained, fuel inj. engine,or would it? I had this problem with them on an old
shovie(ignorance is curable) but it had blowby and rich running issues,don't they
all.lol! They came highly recommended
by Mike at Performance. Are they really as
bad as that? I don't think they would still
make them otherwise.

------------------
98 F-150 4.6 Litre XLT2wd Ext. cab
prarie tan/tan int.
K/N gen.II fipk
custom dual exh/gibson rectangle tips/rear exiting.
color matched snuglid
Superchip!!!
Westin nerfs blk .powdercoat
Clear front corners
Cobra 75WXST cb w/weather alert
Kenwood cd w/Radio Shack speakers,don't laugh it sounds pretty good
On the way/wheels,tires,air dam, etc..etc.......
doin the monochromatic boogie
on the front end.Billet grilles on order
Hoping for deliverance from door crack hell.

 

So in other words,$69.95 installation charge at a Pep Boys sounds like a bargain! LOL I think I'll let someone else
do it. I'd rather have a mechanic? be responsible for breaking something. It's
a good thing plugs last forever in these
engines. Any body had any luck finding a
thermostat in an auto parts store. I found
one at Autobone,but it did not have the little emergency bypass hole in the plate
part of the stat. I didn't want to put that cheap looking junk in my engine. any
help will be appreciated.

------------------
98 F-150 4.6 Litre XLT2wd Ext. cab
prarie tan/tan int.
K/N gen.II fipk
custom dual exh/gibson rectangle tips/rear exiting.
color matched snuglid
Superchip!!!
Westin nerfs blk .powdercoat
Clear front corners
Cobra 75WXST cb w/weather alert
Kenwood cd w/Radio Shack speakers,don't laugh it sounds pretty good
On the way/wheels,tires,air dam, etc..etc.......
doin the monochromatic boogie
on the front end.Billet grilles on order
Hoping for deliverance from door crack hell.

 

I have over 20,000 on my +4s and haven't had any problem with them fouling. You might find a small stepladder helpful when you do the plug change, kind of puts things within reach.

 

Thank you for the encouragement,I am getting someone else to put them in. I'd
rather have them pay for broken injector
plugs,etc..etc....,,thanks again,,,,,,98

------------------
98 F-150 4.6 Litre XLT2wd Ext. cab
prarie tan/tan int.
K/N gen.II fipk
custom dual exh/gibson rectangle tips/rear exiting.
color matched snuglid
Superchip!!!
Westin nerfs blk .powdercoat
Clear front corners
Cobra 75WXST cb w/weather alert
Kenwood cd w/Radio Shack speakers,don't laugh it sounds pretty good
On the way/wheels,tires,air dam, etc..etc.......
doin the monochromatic boogie
on the front end.Billet grilles on order
Hoping for deliverance from door crack hell.

 

Screamer,

For $70 flat rate, throw the money at them and be done with it

 

Well took it in,and they said. we don't want
to do it!! after they quoted a price and took
the keys. The sorry jerks!!!!! They said, take it to the dealer,we don't want to buy you new heads. So,took it to the dealer and they said $185,,there a real bear to do!! What the hell is going on here!! What is the hourly rate in the books,surely they can't charge what they want just because they are tough to change. Sorry
for venting on you guys,but this is testing
my patience to the limit.

------------------
98 F-150 4.6 Litre XLT2wd Ext. cab
prarie tan/tan int.
K/N gen.II fipk
custom dual exh/gibson rectangle tips/rear exiting.
color matched snuglid
Superchip!!!
Westin nerfs blk .powdercoat
Clear front corners
Cobra 75WXST cb w/weather alert
Kenwood cd w/Radio Shack speakers,don't laugh it sounds pretty good
On the way/wheels,tires,air dam, etc..etc.......
doin the monochromatic boogie
on the front end.Billet grilles on order
Hoping for deliverance from door crack hell.

 

My dlr charged me 150 to do the job, which I happily paid after surveying the situation. The mechanic said he'd never do another for that price, after the headache.

I guess my days as a shade tree mechanic are now limitted to my Sears Lawn Tractor.




------------------

97 F150 Lariat 4X4 Ext. Cab. 5.4, AT, Tow Pkg, bedliner, white/grey 2tone w/ grey leather, Fact. CD changer, Gibson Side Swept, K&N, Bosch Platinum +4's,Michelin LTX 265/70 16, S/D Triton V8 emblems, Both doors cracked, Piston slap quieted by Mobile One & Slick 50 Synthetic.

 

I don't know,those lawn tractors are almost as bad now,,lol I have probably
changed two dozen sets of plugs since I've been old enough to reach over a fender,but I've never ever seen anything like this,scheez,,,,,I love my six cylinder Falcon more every time I lift the hood of this truck.

 

My '66 Bronco w/289 has so much room under the hood I usually have a picnic in there when spring time hits.



------------------
97 XLT SC w/62k mi. 3:55, 4.6L, 2" Fabtech lift, Tow package, CD, Auto, avg. 17.2 MPG w/ Goodyear GA 255/75/16's
future mods: BFG 285/75/16's, 3" fabtech coils, K&N air filter,
80-90k mi. mods: 3" spindles, centerline rims with 35's
creativepen@yahoo.com

 

98SCREAMER,
When you first said it was only gonna be $70 I felt stupid for not asking the dealer exactly how much it would cost to have it done. I just figured it would be expensive. I didn't screw around when I did it and it took me about four hours to change all eight plugs and wires-(and a LOT of patience). Good luck in whatever you decide

 

Such whining!

Yes, they are a pain to change, but certainly do-able if you take your time. I changed the plugs in my 97 F150 two at a time over a month and that way the cuts on my knuckles healed up nicely.

There are numerous threads on this topic, including my own blow-by-blow account. The only really BAD one is the passenger rear-most one, which I had to use several extensions and a u-joint to get in and out. The other advice on this post about blowing out the plug hole and the power-steering reservoir are dead on. Getting the boots off is the worst part.

So, just take is slow and careful and you can do it. And the Bosch Plus 4s work just ****!

------------------

'97 F150 Supercab XLT; Pacific Green; 4.6l; B & M ShiftPlus; Bosch Plus4s; 3.55; ABS; 17" whls; Towing Package; Gibson dual exhaust; Waldoch Conversion (Custom Paint/graphics, powerslider rear window; walnut dash trim; overhead console; F'glass 'boards); ARE fiberglass bed cap; JVC Head unit & 12 disk changer; Prince compass/temp RV mirror; Anti-theft.



[This message has been edited by jaymz (edited 09-15-2000).]

 

Now that I have seen the posts here I think my truck will have to wait for new plugs. It has 36,900 miles but from what I read and saw when I went to lift the hood it might have to hit 60K.

------------------
1997 F150 XLT
Debut sport truck
Ext. cab short bed
4.6l 3.55 tow pack *leather *K&N filter *Gibson swept side
*power rear slider
*soft tonneau
*full running boards
*timbren rubber springs *tekonsha brake control.
*bugflector II
*superchip
*rancho RS9000


http://community.webtv.net/rexor29/F150














[This message has been edited by ALLFORD (edited 09-15-2000).]