I Just picked up my 03 superduty that had a lot of miles on it. 1350000 to be exact. I got it cheap from the dealer ship. It has a 5.4 in it right now. I jut blew the #4 spark plug out of the head and completly stripped the treads.

Is this a common problem?

Also what is to come? Guys & Gals whats next the tranny??????

Oh and that limited warrenty wont cover it so right now i am out good money so i see a diesel swap in the future.

 

Wow, with 1.3 million miles, it's amazing that thing isn't resting peacefully in the scrap yard. I think a blown spark plug would be the least of your concerns. I'm dumbfounded as to how you could possibly drive that many miles in 4 years...

 

Im pretty sure he meant 135,000 miles.

And yes, spark plug blowout is a somewhat rare occurance, but it does happen. The #1 way to fix it is to use a Timesert.

Search "Timesert" or "Spark plug blowout" to get a lot of great information

 

Thanks for the reply. I actually hit one to many zeros i ment 135k. Also have you heard of any one doing a gas to deisel swap?

 

on the topic of blowing plugs, I am scared to death of changing mine! I've read that it they are too loose they will back out over time, and cylinder pressure will launch them thru your hood, but if they are too tite, the plug will take the threads with it out of that aluminum head?

I just want to drop a 460 in the truck and be done with it.

These puppies need a changin, but I'm at 120K, look what happened to this poor guy at 135 :-/

 

I know what you mean. I'm at 134k, and need to change them. The dealer quoted me $225 to change the plugs. I am almost tempted to have them do it. I would get it in writting that if anything happens, they would be responsible.

I know $225 is a bit much for a plug change, but it's nothing compared to the $2k-$3k repair bill if it shoots one out.

 

A diesel swap is totally possible. check out http://fordcummins.com/ there are other sites as well, but I can't remember them.

 

Aluminum heads are sometimes known to corrode and freeze the spark plug. A dissimilar metals problem.

I would not follow the manual change interval. I would cut it in half and put antisieze on the plug.

I have no experience with your engine, but it is a common enough problem with engines that have gone the usually recommended 100K miles change intervals with aluminum heads. Some shops won't touch an aluminum head engine with a lot of miles.

Might be worth having the Ford dealer do it one time if they guarantee they will fix whatever happens. then antisieze and change more often yourself in the future.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

The Truck has been at ford since Tuesday. They seem to be having a little trouble putting the incert for the plug.

Aslo does anyone know how good the 03 trannys are. Will the gas tranny be strong enought for a diesel swap?(its and auto)

 

The dealer would have to be pretty naive to guarantee the plugs won't blow out.

 

It would probably be a lot easier to swap in an 05 or later 3 valve 5.4L engine. You'd get more power and they don't suffer from the idiotic engineering from Ford that allows spark plugs to depart the heads.

 

Well Put my Friend, Well put. Diesle swap is a little extreme, enless you find a old beat up SD w/ a 7.3L in the junk yard, then i would say you got one hell of a project on your hands. As for you Tranny consern, the 4R100 is the strongest and most lasting tranny ford ever built entill the introduction of the 5R110W(Torq shift) so i would not worry just yeah. Sound like you got a good truck that just had alittle spark plug spitting problem, its no big deal.

 

If you realy want a diesel you can do a diesel swap or just buy a used diesel truck for cheap
Nick

 

Ford beefed up the internals of the 4R100 for the v10 and the diesel

 

I have found a 7.3 diesel block from an early 90's truck. Is that a good engine to build up of should i go with 99 and up diesel engines.