Nothing wrong with owning new things...i've had two new trucks in the last three years so I understand the new truck thing, but if we're talking about a 100,000 mile truck, take a look online and plenty of three to five year old trucks in that mileage range still go for around 8 grand....hardly throw away money


I really have a hard time thinking you can get a 5.4 motor WITH heads for under 5 grand....

Every thread on here i've seen, very few people have broken plugs under 30k miles.....

I don't think we're going to agree on this.....so we'll just leave it at that.....

 

I've bought and installed motors into DOA vehicles for years. That's how I got my 1993 Bronco for $1k. Spent $700 on a 302 HO from a 95 Mustang and she was on the road in 1 weekend. Motor swap-outs are easy and very cost effective. Especially when the repair is very labor intensive

1. 04-07 5.4 3v for $1800...free shipping...10 miles on motor This seller has 13 of them for that price
2. 04 5.4 3v with 90,000 miles for $1,600 high mileage though...
3. 08 5.4 3v with 6,000 miles for $2,200
4. 05-07 5.4 3v with 33,000 miles for $1,650.00

I spent maybe 5 minutes looking on eBay alone. If I were in the lower 48, I could most likely find another 4 or 5 motors under $2,500 just as easily.

The F-150 is/was the best selling truck for years. Junkyards are flooded with these things. And now, 4 yrs later, the 5.4 3v has enough saturation that it is just as common as say the 5.4 2v is.


so just a quick FYI for you guys who do experience a plug break. and are looking at a $2k bill. that motor in link #1 is only $1,800. 10 miles also. kind of hard to justify fixing an old motor when a newer one is available right now

 

something seems fishy with that motor....why would they have that many surplus motors with 10 miles on them? I don't buy that they're either new.....or that they aren't rebuilds.... but either way I assumed by new motor we were talking about a NEW motor....but yes..you can have a junkyard or pulled motor for that price...

 

it could be fishy, but I've run across that seller on eBay for over a year now. and his feedback is 100+ with a perfect rating.

you can claim low/no mileage, but it's very easy to catch a person lying about it. I think he is legit and is either a junkyard or wholesaler.


a new motor will run you $4k or so. I ran across a Jasper rebuild not to long ago for about $3,500 I believe it was. I personally would prefer a NEW motor, but realistically I would be happy with just dropping $2k vice $4-5k and have a running truck.

 

Just drop in a built 429 big block and have 500 hp an no plug problems.

 

too many fitup issues to drop a big block. I like the relative ease of plug 'n play when motor swapping

 

no fun without some wiring gremlins.

I know motor swapping cam be a pain. Swappin in a 4.6 into a ranger right now. talking bout a pain.

 

That ranger is gonna move. Holy cats

 

there was a Youtube video of a mid 90's ranger with a Explorer 5.0...that was a wicked little truck. I'll bet a 4.6 will be even more fun

EDIT: found the link
5.0 Ranger

go to the 1:06 mark. the first part is a thunderbird

 

Does anyone know what and why these new plugs are so special and makes them last a 100,000 miles?

What kind of plugs are people running?, i dislike champions have always had issuess with them failing, breaking etc (even blew the porcelin out on a 88 tempo yah thats right a f-ing tempo [first car])

in all my other vechicals i usally change them once a year 25-30,000 kms and the electroid has always been worn. in my past vehicals its been cheap maintance like 50 bucks so. Why not change them to keep millage up and preformance where they should be. I havent priced anyplugs yet for my 5.4 i plan to once i can walk agian, lol. It has a little bit of a flaughter at idle (minor miss)


On all the plugs that have been broken is it from people doing it themselfs or dealerships garages etc?? just curious thats all.

 

it was a pretty equal split. most guys broke 1 themselves and couldn't extract...then the dealer got to take over...and usually 1 or 2 more got broken. scary thought

I'm not a fan of the Champions either...but it looks like they're the best of the worst for now

 

i've had some friends try to change plugs, they break the porceiln then decide they arent going todo it anymore and then ask me todo it lol, so we're stuck with champions, who makes the motocraft ones?

 

alright. ya'll have officially scared the crap out of me on changing my plugs now! i didnt know anything about these special 3V $12 plugs till about 3 weeks ago. i have 93,000 miles on my 04 and WAS getting ready to change them. i bought the autolite HT 1. dang things look like an oxygen sensor! B4 i attempt this, any advice?

 

If I was in your shoes, I believe I would take it to the dealer and make sure they are knowledeable of the latest TSB's concerning these plugs. And then try to make sure they are responsible for any additional expense should the plugs break.

If you are going to attempt it yourself, familiarize yourself with the latest TSB's, follow them to the letter, and maybe pick up the extraction tool should you break a plug. Also, on the following web page, view the video episode 26 which outlines removal of the plugs:

http://www.flatratetech.com/index.php?categoryid=4

Ultimately, it's up to you and your comfort level.

 

really though, if the plug is going to break, it's already pretty much predetermined. The amount of corrosion between cylinder and plug shield is the screwy part.

just hope to get lots of penetrant in there and be overly patient. I suggest you get that thing a good soaking over 2-3 days. After you get the plugs out, remove the COPs and spin the motor a few times without plugs to clear all the penetrant out...and then do an oil change ASAP.


good luck