'03, pulled a plug and verified new head! more threads!
#1
01-10-2003 | 01:12 PM
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From: Richmond, VA, USA
'03, pulled a plug and verified new head! more threads!
Hi guys, I just brought my truck in and pulled a spark plug...
I used a long right angle pick (like a dental pick) to reach down in the hole and count the number of threads in the head. I counted over and over and kept coming up with NINE threads.
So I marked a spark plug with an ink pen and threaded it in, it appears as though AT LEAST 7 or 8 plug threads are in full contact with the head!
When I went to reinstall the sparkplug, as soon as it started to catch, I counted 8 full turns of the ratchet before the plug got tight!!!
Thank you Ford for finally fixing this problem.
The info that I have is that all 5.4 heads made AFTER November 12th, 2002 have this updated head design.
According to ford there is 80% more threads in this head. do the math however you want, but I know there are more than 4 now.
Still up for some debate though is wether or not these heads are available as replacement service parts...
The person I spoke to at Ford said NO, but this contradicts the first report made by Buzz LightYear that these heads even existed. and he found out about them because he saw them in person at his dealership being installed AS a service part repair. So apparently they are out there in circulation.
Anyway, for you '03 owners, I believe that this is the date you need to look at to see if your heads are of the new design or not:
This number is found just above the exhaust ports on the right hand side of the head as you look at it from either side of the truck. (meaning the driver side head has the date printed near the firewall end of the head, and the passenger side head has the info printed on the end of the head near the front of the truck).
This number is different than your engine build date found on your driver side valve cover, and also different than your vehicle build date. Again, according to my info, it needs to say 11/12/02 or newer.
good luck.
later,
chris
I used a long right angle pick (like a dental pick) to reach down in the hole and count the number of threads in the head. I counted over and over and kept coming up with NINE threads.
So I marked a spark plug with an ink pen and threaded it in, it appears as though AT LEAST 7 or 8 plug threads are in full contact with the head!
When I went to reinstall the sparkplug, as soon as it started to catch, I counted 8 full turns of the ratchet before the plug got tight!!!
Thank you Ford for finally fixing this problem.
The info that I have is that all 5.4 heads made AFTER November 12th, 2002 have this updated head design.
According to ford there is 80% more threads in this head. do the math however you want, but I know there are more than 4 now.
Still up for some debate though is wether or not these heads are available as replacement service parts...
The person I spoke to at Ford said NO, but this contradicts the first report made by Buzz LightYear that these heads even existed. and he found out about them because he saw them in person at his dealership being installed AS a service part repair. So apparently they are out there in circulation.
Anyway, for you '03 owners, I believe that this is the date you need to look at to see if your heads are of the new design or not:
This number is found just above the exhaust ports on the right hand side of the head as you look at it from either side of the truck. (meaning the driver side head has the date printed near the firewall end of the head, and the passenger side head has the info printed on the end of the head near the front of the truck).
This number is different than your engine build date found on your driver side valve cover, and also different than your vehicle build date. Again, according to my info, it needs to say 11/12/02 or newer.
good luck.
later,
chris
Last edited by superfords; 01-10-2003 at 04:52 PM.
#4
01-10-2003 | 01:37 PM
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Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Palo Alto, CA
Last week i caught that faint wiff of burning oil from the passenger side of the truck (pi$$es me off ... oh well). I spent 10mins with my mag light and found a very small drop of oil by the head. I was debating to get it fixed now or wait until it really stared leaking. If in fact Ford has new heads out i'll wait until they get to my local Ford service dept.
FRITZ, Stock Silver 2001 "L" BaBolt's s/s tips
FRITZ, Stock Silver 2001 "L" BaBolt's s/s tips
#7
01-10-2003 | 02:17 PM
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From: Stinkin Joisey
Glad you got them Chris. As Don said, Ford knew of this problem but let us buy these 30K playtoys knowing that the heads sucked.
Going by the dates you posted, what was there, a four or five day lapse of time between when the heads where cast and the motor put together. If that is the case they are making the heads as they need them, and we will not see any as parts for a long time
Going by the dates you posted, what was there, a four or five day lapse of time between when the heads where cast and the motor put together. If that is the case they are making the heads as they need them, and we will not see any as parts for a long time
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#12
01-10-2003 | 02:43 PM
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From: Portland, Oregon. USA
It's bigger than just a lightning problem. It also happens frequently on the N/A modular motors as well. Do the math, noway Ford is going to issue that recall. Let's see, last year Ford sold 900,000 F-series trucks. Good bet that the majority had modualr motors. Add to that Mustang, E-series, Explorer, and everything else. Conservatively looking at 1,000,000 units just for one year.
#14
01-10-2003 | 02:51 PM
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From: Huntington Beach/CA
Originally posted by Silver-Bolt
It's bigger than just a lightning problem. It also happens frequently on the N/A modular motors as well. Do the math, noway Ford is going to issue that recall. Let's see, last year Ford sold 900,000 F-series trucks. Good bet that the majority had modualr motors. Add to that Mustang, E-series, Explorer, and everything else. Conservatively looking at 1,000,000 units just for one year.
It's bigger than just a lightning problem. It also happens frequently on the N/A modular motors as well. Do the math, noway Ford is going to issue that recall. Let's see, last year Ford sold 900,000 F-series trucks. Good bet that the majority had modualr motors. Add to that Mustang, E-series, Explorer, and everything else. Conservatively looking at 1,000,000 units just for one year.
With the PI head attached to a 4.6, you dont launch plugs. You do however, launch plugs on a 5.4. Try to figure that one out?
I think its fair to say, that if you head over to your local SVT dealer and demand the new head, it should be given to you. Or, hand me a ratchet and ill lossen a few plugs and drive around for a few days.
#15
01-10-2003 | 03:28 PM
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From: Richmond, VA, USA
