Tricks on changing plugs?
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From: Texas
Tricks on changing plugs?
So its time to get my hands a bit dirty and change out the plugs on my truck. It's a 1990 F250 4x4 with a 460 under the hood. Front plugs look pretty easy but man it's a tight fit getting back to the rear ones. Anyone have some useful tips/tricks on getting to them before I commence removing the skin from my knuckles?
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From: Texas
In there a while is probably an understatement...
These are probably on the order of 16 years old. Dad doesn't remember ever having changed them nor did his mechanic (whom I got to visit when I rescued the truck from the barn).
These are probably on the order of 16 years old. Dad doesn't remember ever having changed them nor did his mechanic (whom I got to visit when I rescued the truck from the barn).
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Originally Posted by Renner
In there a while is probably an understatement...
These are probably on the order of 16 years old. Dad doesn't remember ever having changed them nor did his mechanic (whom I got to visit when I rescued the truck from the barn).
These are probably on the order of 16 years old. Dad doesn't remember ever having changed them nor did his mechanic (whom I got to visit when I rescued the truck from the barn).
Might be worthwhile to think about letting the motor mounts loose and raising the engine just a bit to get better access. Make sure your plug socket is new and/or good quality, rounding one of the old plugs off should'nt be an option. And no 12 point deep wells as substitutes. Don't ask me how I know these things.
Last edited by doodaa; Dec 4, 2006 at 04:44 PM.
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From: Fair Oaks, Ca
Ditto on the u-joints and extensions......I also use a pnumatic ratchet. The viberation helps loosen the plugs and if you don't have much room to move your socket wrence the pnumatic ratchet aleviates that issue......mine doesn't have much torque so it can't do any damage if the plug won't come loose......
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Just went through the plug thing w/ an 87' F350 460. Soaked and soaked but didn't do any good at all. Finally had to use enough torch gas to float a blimp to get them out. Four came out in one piece and four broke and had to use extractors.
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From: Texas
sounds like I'm in for some fun. Also have to put the original clutch fan back on her and change out some hoses while I'm under the hood. Dry rot is not my friend.
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From: Venetia, PA
Try tightening the plugs a little first. Turning them that direction should break the threads loose. Then just untighten them and take em out. That sould work on plugs or most bolts or screws for that matter.
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From: south of Hotsprings ar
why a clutch fan??? Use an aftermarket fan with no clutch. The cooler the engine the better. Buy one that is flexable. I have a 87 with a 351w in it me and my dad built from scratch. It will run needless to say. He stomped on it one day and around 10,000 rpms the crapy clutch fan tore a part and left us stranded with a busted radiator and water pump.
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From: Texas
The clutch fan is mainly to get her to warm up a bit. When she was a towing rig, my dad had put a straight fan on her as she'd get hot pulling around the gooseneck. When I pulled her out of the barn this year, the radiator promply sprung a seam (dang plastic aluminum pice of junk). With the old rad and the straight fan, she'd hold pretty much straight up on the temp guage. With the new rad and the straight fan...on a hot day in traffic, she's doing good to get up to the N in Normal. With the weather we're having now, I'm barely able to get her into the 'I might be warm' state. (moral of the story, radiators need flushed out every so often or they clog and you have heat issues)