How in the world????

[Dirtman]

Glad you sorted it out. Don't feel bad, I've done that a few times. Dohc engines with center plugs and those plug wires that go about a foot down into the valve cover always piss me off trying to get them seated right. Slathering them in silly paste usually helps.

 

[Curious Hound]

Glad you sorted it out. Don't feel bad, I've done that a few times. Dohc engines with center plugs and those plug wires that go about a foot down into the valve cover always piss me off trying to get them seated right. Slathering them in silly paste usually helps.

I did some googling last night and found out I am not the only one. Not by a long shot. Very frustrating, especially after watching a buddy change all 8 on his 6l LS in a S10 blazer race truck all in about 5 minutes.

I'm actually still fighting it. At least one more popped off when I went to take Mom out for dinner last night.

 

[91stranger]

get you a pair of long reach hose pliers and use those to get a good grip on the spark plug boot. Worth a shot and can get a lot more leverage with a pair of pliers.

 

[91stranger]

I would try pushing the boot onto a spare spark plug while it is popped off to see if it is "clicking" onto the end of the spark plug. Could be loose and not getting a good bite on the end of the spark plug. May need to persuade it a little.

 

[Curious Hound]

I would try pushing the boot onto a spare spark plug while it is popped off to see if it is "clicking" onto the end of the spark plug. Could be loose and not getting a good bite on the end of the spark plug. May need to persuade it a little.

I suspect that was the problem with getting them to stay on. #3 would pop off as soon as I applied throttle. Maybe I damaged the electrical clip inside when I was fighting to get it off to replace the spark plugs the other day. I replaced that one with a new cable this morning when I was desperate to use the truck for a Craigslist appointment. I'll put the other new cables on soon, when I get some time on a cooler day. Truck is finally running good now.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I put plugs in my 98 Expedition with the 5.4L i had back in the day. It was the 2nd hardest plug change i ever did.

The number 1 honor belongs to the 94 E150 with a 302 i had before that.

 

[Curious Hound]

I put plugs in my 98 Expedition with the 5.4L i had back in the day. It was the 2nd hardest plug change i ever did.

The number 1 honor belongs to the 94 E150 with a 302 i had before that.

I have never enjoyed working on vans or mini vans.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I have never enjoyed working on vans or mini vans.

I put plugs in a 87ish E150 once that had a 300 I6. That was easy as pie lol.

But yes in general there a pain, honestly i think aerostars were the worst. Just cause even with the doghouse pulled you were still layin under the dash. Atleast the E series has room to postion comfortably.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I think the hardest I've done are on a 1989 ford RV with the EFI 460. Not the easiest motor to pull either.

 

[Dirtman]

We had a triton v-10 work truck... we sold it instead of changing the plugs. It just seemed more logical.

 

[Ramcharger90]

That 96 exploder with the 4.0 I had was dumb had to take the front tires off to change spark plugs.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I think the hardest I've done are on a 1989 ford RV with the EFI 460. Not the easiest motor to pull either.

Puttin plugs in my F250s 460 can be tight, i cant imagine it in an E van engine bay.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Puttin plugs in my F250s 460 can be tight, i cant imagine it in an E van engine bay.

My brother had to pull a 460 out of a motor home, it had to come out thru the walk in door.

Right out of high school it was like his first project when he started working for a Ford dealer... not much fun to be had.

 

[Dirtman]

I pulled an inline 6 in a chevy van once. The factory service manual called for removal through the sliding door, which involved removing the transmission, dismantling pretty much the entire interior, and the use of dolleys and pulleys. It was nuts. It was like a 3 man job that took a 4 or 5 days.

I ended up saying screw that and chopped the radiator support off and pulled the engine straight out of the nose. Welded it back in when I got the new motor in. No one ever noticed. When they asked how I did that job by myself in 2 days I just said "shhhhhhhh" and walked away.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

My brother had to pull a 460 out of a motor home, it had to come out thru the walk in door.

Right out of high school it was like his first project when he started working for a Ford dealer... not much fun to be had.

Oh it was a Class A. I thought it was a class C (van front).

Yeah ive never had to yank a Class A motor. Screw that.