I'm seeking someone to wrench on my van.. Need a highly skilled/experienced guy to do a few things on my 2007 E350 V10.

I don't have time, nor tools (anymore). But I have money.

 

I know a really good shop in Ocala.

 

Ocala is a bit out of my targeted range but it might work if everything else lined up. I'm in Lakeland, but I regularly drive to Orlando and Tampa areas.

However my main concern is paying a shop vs paying a person. I make pretty good money but can't quite afford $200 for a spark plug job. I'm looking for "a guy" that I can pay a fraction of that...

 

Sorry, I don't have one of those to recommend.

 

Not sure what fraction of $200 you have in mind for your V10 plug change, but the plugs alone are around $30, and starting from scratch you'd need some other supplies for another $10, plus time and gas driving around to get that stuff. I don't think you'd find anyone who speaks English willing to do it for less than $100, and probably not a "highly skilled" guy on the low end of that.

But if your van isn't running right, the chances of it being just worn plugs are pretty slim.

 

I understand what you mean about that with the parts and run around to get them at all, but I have a box of parts ready to go… I had planned to find time and get my tools to do it but it will never happen. So the fraction I was referring to was only about labor.

And the van runs really well except for some spark knock. It's just that I've had a box full of new spark plugs and coil boots for a couple of months now and I want somebody to put them in.

I bought the van 22 months ago, and I have added 87,000 miles with almost no maintenance. Just oil changes and a few air filters. Oh, and my $600 high performance brakes and my $900 new tires and my $250 radio :-)

 

I'm going to stick with my statement that if it's not running right, the chances of it being the plugs is pretty slim. I haven't heard of worn spark plugs causing knocking. First thing to check might be the knock sensor. You could try premium fuel to see if it goes away. If it does, then it could be carbon buildup in the head.

I'd actually also suggest checking that your catalytic converter isn't plugged. I've heard a knocking type sound and low power when they get plugged up. You can pull the down stream O2 sensors and take it for a loud test drive to see if your power comes back.

But I don't operate V10's and so I don't know about all their peculiarities.

 

No foul intended here: but I already said it is running fine. Not sure why you are coming back to this point.

87,000+ miles : long time for spark plugs/boots...

My point of this thread is just that I'm looking for "a guy" to keep in my proverbial back pocket for maintenance/repairs.

Regarding the spark knock: I've described this is detail on another thread. Other people chimed in with their input also. Yes the spark knock reduces greatly with higher octane fuel, but my fuel economy reduced also.

 

Ahhh. I was under the impression that it wasn't running correctly and that is why you wanted to change the plugs.

My feeling about that, as I've mentioned in other posts, is they really don't need to be changed anywhere near as often as recommended. But if they are there burning a hole in your pocket...

Good luck finding the guy you look for. Sounds like it might be kind of a unicorn but you never know.

 

$422 to replace my spark plugs with their new parts. LOL.

And not that this matters: but they won't install the ones I bought because they're not Motorcraft

 

Wow. Gotta love the Ford Stealers huh. They probably would throw tax and "shop supplies" on top of that price too if I had to guess. For that price, I would consider underbidding them if I happened to live nearby.

 

$100 cash is my offer. Parts already purchased and ready...