4.6 f-150

[Camaro86SHOCKER]

Anybody put plugs and wires in one of these trucks? its a 97 f-150 2wd with the 4.6 v8. It's got a 150k and still on its original plugs and wires. This just does not look fun. It's not nearly as easy to get to like on a mustang.
I'm certainly no amateur when it comes to working on cars but damnit why do they have to make this so difficult?
Anybody have any tips or feel like helping when I tear into this damn thing?
I'm really not looking forward to this but it's starting to miss real bad.
Any help would be appreciated.

[IWRBB]

I did it on my 2000 F150 5.4L. It's really not that bad. Pull off the stuff in the way first- air box, air tube, PS resevoir bracket, and any vacuum or plastic hoses. Then just unbolt the coils, one bolt per coil. Pull the coils, blow out the holes with compressed air, shoot some penetrating lube in the holes and let it sit. Come back and pull the plugs, pop in the new ones, and put it all back together. The main trick is to rotate your injectors so the wiring harness isn't blocking the coil hold down bolts.

[cstreu1026]

I've heard the trucks are a real PITA.

[Camaro86SHOCKER]

Interesting. Thank you for the input. I'm really not looking forward to getting started. Should I put anything on the threads before installing them? I've heard these trucks are bad for plug blowout. I can't imangine a little lock tite would hurt anything. Also did you have any problems removing the ones from the back of the engine due to bring a bit under the cowl of the van

[Camaro86SHOCKER]

*being a bit under the cowl of the cab. Sorry I'm writing this with my blackberry.

[bobtsgt]

blow out is due to weak threads in the heads. Only way to fix that is pull the heads and heli coil them. A little bit of aluminum anti seize is alright to use if you plan on pulling them out again down the road. go get some Trick Flow heads and we can slap them in there :D

[orangeconv]

You can helicoil the heads on I have done it b4 and the car is still going strong

[AntiRice427]

Buy your plugs from ford and torque them to spec!

[Blackout]

just be glad it isn't one of the new F-150's. The plugs break off in the heads and drop into the cylinders.

[BIGHONKEY]

I have a 98 with the 4.6 it's plug location is way shittier than the 5.4. The last two are fucked. I called around and colerain ford wanted the least by far to change them. So I let them do it. When I picked it up I asked do they have a special tool to do the last two plugs? He said nope, we take off the trans mount and lower it a little bit to give it some room. :)

[Camaro86SHOCKER]

Well Bob that would be great but as soon as I do that then I will want to put a blower on it and so on so I better just do this first lol. Wow you guys are making this sound even worse. So how much did the ford dealership charge you to change them? What all did that price include? Plugs wires and labor? Can anyone on here give me a quote for doing this? I really don't have the time to do it myself as I'm in training every day for my new job.

[IWRBB]

I just can't imagine why a 4.6 would be any worse than a 5.4L. It has the same heads as the 5.4L on a narrower and shorter engine block. The rear plugs were kinda tough, but not really. Harder to reach than to actually remove.

It looks 100 times worse to do plugs on the "Tritons" than it really is. I used a spark plug socket with a swivel extension built into it, a 3/8" flexhead ratchet and that was it.

[BIGHONKEY]

Well Bob that would be great but as soon as I do that then I will want to put a blower on it and so on so I better just do this first lol. Wow you guys are making this sound even worse. So how much did the ford dealership charge you to change them? What all did that price include? Plugs wires and labor? Can anyone on here give me a quote for doing this? I really don't have the time to do it myself as I'm in training every day for my new job.

I just had the plugs done the wires were easy enough. I can't remember but they said they has a standard charge for V8 cars, V6 ect.....