Ford 5.4L HELP...got bigger issues now HELP

TOO LATE...and yes i've done it before timing and all but money is tight for all that work. forgot to mention i was pulling plug to do "leak down test" as my final test on it before putting all new coils on just to make sure that test passes along with other tests i've done and here i am. doing head/timing jobs is nothing new to me i just can't afford it and i'm not one to pull just one head and replace one gasket but reuse timing and stuff..kinda pointless unless a absolute must have to
 
i had a feeling about it but was hoping to get lucky like i did when i pulled compression test on it last week and put new plugs in...i know stupid me should've done all test then...DAMMIT JOHN
 
strange1 said:
So, the plug is out just can't get it lifted out of the hole? Are you using a spark plug socket with the rubber piece inside to hold the plug, or a regular socket?
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well the plug is loose in the hole but can't lift it out and yes i'm using spark plug socket..really? (not being rude but C'mon man, that's a little harsh)
 
i have idea but want some advise of how good of an idea it is: if you must flame fine but be mindful, lol. thanks
IDEA: take JB Weld mix it, put it on inside of spark plug socket, let it harden little bit then stick it on the plug and wait to dry????would this hold up/work or too risky for the JB weld to "fall" down around the plug which then really screws me.
IDEA 2: use that body filler putty in a tube and same thing...put it in the socket, let harden then put it on the plug..let dry and pull up???
IDEA 3: still thinking.......................................brain's overloading
 
do you have a small magnet like all the Auto parts stores sale? The thin extendable ones? I have used those many times when plugs are stuborn and don't want to stay on a spark plug socket. Put the magnet down in the plug hole tube and stick it to the metal plug tip and lift it out! BOOM
 
i have a magnet the size of the spark plug hole that fits in there and still no go..it just minutely wobbles it a little but dosn't pull it up still....any reason starting/cranking engine would hurt anything to "blow it out" (figured i'm gonna have to redo the heli coil anyway but better this time since i have the intake out of the way and WAY more room to work with the tap..also was just told by a friend that i should've used "Locktite" red stuff religiously on it which i didn't so now i know the cure but this stupid plug is stuck...
 
did you try to spin the engine over to blow it out last night? I can't imagine why it wouldn't lift out with the magnet.
 
strange1 said:
did you try to spin the engine over to blow it out last night? I can't imagine why it wouldn't lift out with the magnet.
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no cause i was waiting to hear a response on if that's a good idea to spin the motor to push it out or not..this morning i'm going to try forcing a hose on it first, then go to lowes/advanced to see what other "specialty pliers" i might find that would work on it....hope my buddy brings me his fancy camera that will fit in there and let me see the issue
 
The camera is a great idea.
 
yeah i hope he does..once i get it out it would be nice to be able to see in there and decide if it's fixable or if the head has to come off to fix it better....first gotta get the darn thing
 
well well well :( heli coil is screwed all to pieces. put camera down in there cylinder looks fine, all the valves look good (surprisingly clean for mileage), but the #4 is pretty buggered up so i redone a new bigger heli coil with TONS of Red thread-locker and hope for the best cause either way if this don't hold up, the head is no good anyways so figured might as well lock it down all the way LOL. finished putting it back together with all new gaskets from lower intake up, all new coils, new knock sensor while there and replaced the CHT censor too and so far runs good but i just let it idle and drove down the road and back. tomorrow gonna take it on a drive and see how it does. (i guess time to start looking for another set of heads or motor..whichever deal comes the best). at least i know this heli coil ain't going nowhere..hehe but doesn't guarantee it won't ark later on and start missing but keeping my hopes high on it. (a rubber hose jammed on the plug and twisting it while pulling up got it to catch the rest of the threads and came right out after another 5 or 6 turns). thanks for all you guys help.
 
pretty awesome to mention...i got 8 new coils with lifetime warranty for 15.99 a piece!!! WHAAATTT?? dang my commercial guys are good. my account just upgraded to Gold 2days ago so he gave me real special price (platinum level) on all the parts for this fix. good to know a good guy at your local parts store!! buying him lunch on monday for these kinda prices. the camera he lent me was AWESOME AWESOME and i am buying me one asap! It was the coolest thing i've ever used and was very impressed with the quality and clarity of the video feed on the little camera. Just thought i'd share. Good Day Fellas and have a great weekend.
 
I've not been using them much, I had lot of issues with parts! He's a good guy though. I used that camera last week and for its price it's pretty nice. Beats the heck out of my cheap snap on scope!
 
mysterync said:
I've not been using them much, I had lot of issues with parts! He's a good guy though. I used that camera last week and for its price it's pretty nice. Beats the heck out of my cheap snap on scope!
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funny u say that cause that's what he said too ...that many guys were liking it WAY better than the snap on ones and for fraction of the cost. there are many times when i wish i could've had one of those so i'm sure many jobs will help a lot in using it.
 
well put about 60ish miles on the truck today...in town and lots of highway and drives great and gas mileage seems to be almost back to where it was...only thing it has is a 45-48mph "shudder" in OD which i've read is also common on these so i guess drain the pan and torque converter, change fluid and use Mercon V with a little extra Friction Modifier to help it. otherwise with all new plugs, new coils, new oil, new knock sensor truck runs better than when i first got it and when i first fixed the heli coil the first time. add 2 sizes down for the tires that i swapped, and boy it really flies now. towing ought to be even better now.
 
put new Thrush Welded (Flowmaster 40 equivalent, half the cost lol) on the truck today and modified the intake to be much better breathing and WOW....that 5.4 really really screams now. it will actually chirp tires and burn em which before wouldn't even get close. I've done Muffler upgrades on every car of mine and this one has seemed to have made the biggest difference...i guess that tank stock muffler with several holes in it really crapped out the engine cause WOW, i'm really impressed with the performance of this truck.
Question for Transmission gurus: are shift kits made just for power/speed/take off or do they help with towing?? everything i'm trying to do to this truck is for towing power/easier on drivetrain purposes but can't seem to get straight forward answear on the web about shift kits for towing purposes. around town i gramma it to get my 16mph or so and just want to do any other upgrades that would help drivetrain pull better on long trips. I know it's already in 50% better shape now than ever before but now i want to start focusing on just improving it....AND DON"T TELL ME TO BUY A DIESEL...you can keep your smoke machines :D LOL.
 
Also, will dropping 265s down to 245s be good enough difference in mileage/power for the swap hassle/money or not. I know on jeeps (me being jeep guru) going from 31s to 33s noticeable difference so i would assume for any vehicle this would apply?


^ wow. simply wow. yes, the plastic stick on emblem that says 'jeep' allows them to not have to conform to the laws of physics. seriously dude. seriously.

take a good long look at what a tire size jump really means. theres rotational mass to content with (acceleration/deceleration) (hint: that's go and woah), increased unsprung weight, quite a bit of extra sidewall flex added (Steering vagueness), total driveline ratio has been changed, tire scrub, possible turning radius issues, axle tube flex, higher risk of bearing failure, etc. damn a whole plethora of issues once you do a tire size jump (up or down). I'd say go read about it and report back, but you think we are kidding when we say this.

in a nutshell, yes a drop in tire diameter will yield more torque, and depending on your motors power band it may or may not be better. Do the math- look up circumference, calculate it based on both tires. then look at a what that does to engine rpms vs distance travelled. :shaking:
 
^^^^ok ok ok..don't gotta be so harsh!!lol i was just asking and went ahead got those tires which after intake mod, exhaust mod, and the smaller tires...very impressed with the difference and truck should pull way better with much more gas friendly DD around here and more pulling power coming back up the mountain from the the park. i'm satisfied with it for now!
 
Chuckman said:
wow. simply wow. yes, the plastic stick on emblem that says 'jeep' allows them to not have to conform to the laws of physics. seriously dude. seriously
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"how rude of you sir...i'm appalled! LOL LOL i just had to make a funny. it's been one of those days...great days that is. hope yours is well too!!:beer:
 
Yeah I'm more than kinda serious. You're 'building' rigs for 'customers' yet your ignorance of what u are dealing with is downright scary. Certain things aren't safe, legal or even to be messed with by an amatuer. Comments such as the dribble of which you spew upon the board is just sad. If you would listen to what those MUCH more experienced than I would reply, we would be getting somewhere. But, here we are.

That being said, I am a 20 year member of SAE so I might have a clue as to what I refer to.

They sell welders and chainsaws to anyone but that doesn't mean that everyone should have them.
 
Chuckman said:
Yeah I'm more than kinda serious. You're 'building' rigs for 'customers' yet your ignorance of what u are dealing with is downright scary. Certain things aren't safe, legal or even to be messed with by an amatuer. Comments such as the dribble of which you spew upon the board is just sad. If you would listen to what those MUCH more experienced than I would reply, we would be getting somewhere. But, here we are.

That being said, I am a 20 year member of SAE so I might have a clue as to what I refer to.

They sell welders and chainsaws to anyone but that doesn't mean that everyone should have them.
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well dam dude, cool your panties bro...like i've said before, you and many others don't know me and what i can and can't do. go talk to ALL of my customers and you might learn something surprising but what do i care of what u or others think since none of you guys know anything about me. As far as what i build...You like most people forget one thing..or several for that matter: with pocket full of money i could build just as cool and good of rigs as the next guy but when you're broke and working with really really limited funds but can still build something that can go out and play and have tons of fun while safe and sometimes even surprising others....that's something money can't buy. I'm sorry and this comment will get me bashed from hell but here it goes: it ain't hard to at all to buy some big axles, all the bracketry, dom, pipe benders, tires, wheels, motors/trans/lift kits blah blah blah (you get the point) and put it all together, aim it at whatever your little heart desires and hit the gas with some 300-400hp motor. but the little guys like myself who can still take a XJ like mine in my avatar and build it for 1200 locked front and rear and still keep up with some mild wheeling, that is something that i'm proud to say...proud to own...proud to BRAG about cause in the end while people have their fancy shmancy expensive lockers, mine are free and get the same job done, my ghetto lift still lifts just as high as the proper lift without some articulation, my axles can still take a beating compared to the stock xjs running chromos and the beauty is, while being poor i can still enjoy this life and hobby without going in debt or taking away from the family and till this day i have still yet to ever "harm" anyone including myself with my so called "ghetto builds." and FYI, i don't build anything for customers...they have money most of them and install regular stuff...the ones i build stuff for are guys like myself who have better things to spend money on than 1000dollar lift kit when they can have a whole jeep for that..it's just called being frugal and making money stretch as far as possible. I hate to rant like this but i'm known to do so because i get sick of people with comments like yours always putting down the small guys who just want to do what they love as much as anyone else but everyone wants to always judge them because they don't have "dom" arms or other fancy crap.
IN CONCLUSION: you should really take one piece of advise from this if anything at all: #1.don't judge someone you don't know. #2don't assume because what you see is what that person can do as far as skill level...i have plenty of potential and skill but without money and proper tools and equipment, i have not had the ability to ever show it. last but not least, if you don't approve of someone's build, why comment on their pride and joy and steal that from them (not that anyone has ever stolen mine) but seriously, keep your comments to yourself and be a good sport and good human being and treat others as you would want to be treated. that's all i've ever asked from anyone on this forum but many seem to just can't help themselves...but that's ok cause it shows people's true colors and who they really are on the inside. This post may seem personal but it's not....I've written this to everyone who has ever posted junk like what you put and will always continue to defend those like myself from "ASE Master???" like yourself. I hope you have a good day!!!
 
Chuckman said:
That being said, I am a 20 year member of SAE so I might have a clue as to what I refer to.
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if this is all you have to "impress people with" i feel sorry for you because someones personality, morals, ethics, values, compassion, kindness to others, are way more impressive qualities to brag about in my book but that's ok, i hope someday you will see that. Keeping your comments to yourself and not being rude to others would be much more impressive!!
"That being said, I am a 15 year self taught entrepreneur who has learned and taught myself everything and dam proud of it and has built my own shop on God's principles and work values and that has gotten me farther than any ASE class would have ever">>>>just sayin!
 
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^^^^took you long enough to put that up!! lol I'm sure the rest of the crown will chime is soon and put me on the "epic fail threads again" Good thing i'm not here to become popular i guess lol
 
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