Sacramento area mechanic for plug insert work?
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 44
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From: Sacramento, CA
Sacramento area mechanic for plug insert work?
I know there's a few of us in the NorCal area on here, so I'm hoping someone might be able to point me in the direction of a suitable and trustworthy mechanic that would be able to do a thread insert for me on a 2005 Ex. I don't *know* that I need one yet (going to do the plugs and coils tomorrow), but I want to try to have someone on standby just in case so I'm not stuck with an unusable vehicle.
Any pointers or direction would be very appreciated!
Any pointers or direction would be very appreciated!
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
Your '05 has the improved head design with more spark plug threads and should NOT present any issues with stripped threads or plug blowouts if a few simple steps are followed. 
Here is the tread I posted after I changed plugs on my '05.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post18241351
Here is the tread I posted after I changed plugs on my '05.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post18241351
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,812
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From: Thousand Oaks, CA
I agree the chances of a blown plug are much less with the 8 thread heads, but I think I've read about a couple of 8 thread head and 3V head engine owners having blown plugs.
The steps in your plug change thread should work for all the aluminum heads, including my '02 4 thread PI heads.
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2019
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From: Sacramento, CA
My main concern is that some of those inserts, if they're not installed right, will come out when you try to remove the plug and I don't have the tools or skills to fix that.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,812
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From: Thousand Oaks, CA
I thought the Lisle extraction tool was only needed for broken 2 piece 3v plugs.
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Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
'05 EX still has the 2V motor while the pickups got the 3V which may need the lisle extractor tool for the first plug change.
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Freshman User
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From: Sacramento, CA
Super Moderator
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You're fine. Noobs, olds, vets, even the Google bots refer to the Excursion as an Ex while in the Excursion forum. Just ignore the grumpy old man behind the curtain. SHO means well 
Stewart
Stewart
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2019
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From: Sacramento, CA
Just a quick update, I did the coils and plugs today... man, those plugs were worn half to death. Also, that rear passenger side one is a right pain in the ***. I ran a scope down each plug hole and confirmed that there were no thread inserts in any of them and the threads were nice and clean. My Silver 2005 Ford Excursion XLT RWD 6.8L Triton v10 
sure does run a lot smoother now.
Thanks to all of you that replied with info!
sure does run a lot smoother now.Thanks to all of you that replied with info!
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2019
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From: Sacramento, CA
Well, the workshop manual said 11 ft-lb, but there's a ton of other info saying to do 25-30, so I did 25 and held my breath, heh. It seems like they all went in without an issue. I did have one of them scare the hell out of me though... I got the socket on it and it started coming out by hand, so I was pretty sure it was hosed and had a blown insert or something, but luckily the scope didn't show anything untoward and the replacement plug went in without issue.