Tune Up & Midpipe Install

[dustang50]

Just got done replacing the plugs. I had read that you had to shut the fuel off to the rails, run the engine until it stalled, unbolt the rails & pry them back, blah blah blah... None of that was necessary. In fact, it was as easy as changing them in my old 5.0. I guess I was intimidated by the coil packs...

Anyways, it was freakin' easy to do. I'm going to attempt to change the fuel filter tomorrow, as well as swap the stock H for a new Bassani catted X. Any pointers/hints for either? I should mention that the stock H is pretty rusty, so I soaked all of the bolts with PB Blaster.

 

[Mike97gt]

well now you know that when doing spark plugs you DON'T have to remove the fuel rails.

The x-pipe install is very easy. you may have to heat the manifold nuts with a torch to remove them.

 

[cooter_11]

If you know somebody with air tools it will drastically help you in getting those bolts out. Good job on the PB Blaster, that stuff really works, and also have a torch handy if you don't have air tools. Just be careful if you go to torch where you sprayed the PB, that stuff lights up pretty quickly, so just use caution and common sense. Good luck!

 

[sgarlic]

Haven't heard of removing the fuel rails to do the spark plugs..

http://www.bullittarchive.com/1017.htm

 

[dustang50]

Haven't heard of removing the fuel rails to do the spark plugs..

http://www.bullittarchive.com/1017.htm

It's on a 2002 Ford Service CD...

 

[sgarlic]

It's on a 2002 Ford Service CD...

I think there's a section at the beginning the advises the technician to use discretion and common sense when following the procedures in the manual.. to me, comon sense would say removing or disconnecting the fuel rails seems a bit much to change spark plugs.

 

[dustang50]

I agree. I find it funny that Ford puts out a service CD & then says something like that! It's like saying "Do it this way, but if it doesn't sound right to you then do it another way."

I just got in from the X-pipe install. I was able to get every nut off except for one on the passenger side manifold. Tried heating it up & everything. I think the swivel kept getting in the way & wouldn't let the socket sit firmly on the nut. So after a few hours of playing around with it I put it back together & decided to let my mechanic have a hand at it sometime this week. It's really disappointing & frustrating that it was just one freaking nut that kept me from getting this damn thing installed!

The 'stang has been on blocks all winter, so as a bit of consolation I put it back on the ground, put the battery back in & fired it up. Then I felt a little better...

 

[sgarlic]

I can't tell you how many threads I've seen over the years of people having problems with that lower passenger side nut.. easily in the hundreds.

I've personally experienced it. The trick is the right combination of tools, lots of PB blaster, and if possible, an air ratchet.

We stripped mine from whatever size it starts out at (I want to say 5/8) down to a 15mm metric, then down to a 14 MM (kept trying to turn until it rounded off, then put the next smallest size on, etc, etc.

We ended up using a medium deepwell 14MM with a long extension, and hammered it on (at an angle on the nut.) Then plugged the extension on to an air ratchet, and the shock from the ratchet broke it loose. It's a PITA.. that's for sure.

Somebody who works at Ford should take a look and see if there's a special tool they use to get that nut off. I bet there's a special tool out there.

 

[dustang50]

I need to get an air tank & some tools...

Other than that one nut, everything came off easily. Like you said, it's just that one nut!

 

[sgarlic]

Just make sure to get an air compressor that will put out more than 90psi. Our compressor at work has 90psi max, and it wouldn't even break my lugnuts loose on my car with my impact wrench.. I had to have a diesel powered compressor (lopac for you fellow AF maintainers) delivered to our building and crank it to 200psi to break them loose.

I had the exact one in mind I was going to buy until I realized how much more power you need to really get the advantage of using air tools.