My motor went boom...

[LincMercLover]

Before you all worry, no it's not the motor in the MM, but my Dad's 1998 F-150 (essentially the family truck). It had been making a lights "tiss tiss tiss" noise like an exhaust leak recently. I just though, oh well, time for headers! :D BUT... here I am sitting at a stop light. Light goes green, I hit the gas (not heavy or anything, just normal), and BOOM! Thing sounds like a lawn mower. Power dramatically lost and it's sounding kind of like a stucking/ticking noise that pulsates, and is consistent with RPM (you know, one of those expensive sounding noises). She's got the 5.4L. Took all day yesterday to pull the damn valve cover off! POS new cars... Anyway, I'm looking at the valve train move while (barely) running, and everything looks hunky doory, for a SOHC head (this is the first I've ever seen one in person)... My thought was a lifter shot craps, but I'm not for sure now. Anybody have any ideas about this? I hate these new cars that compensate for driveability until the damn thing throws something major! I swear, the MM ever pull this crap, I'll rip the motor out and dump in a crate 460 and call it a day! I NEED my truck back so I can pickup another Lincoln I bought... :rolleyes: :(

[Logan]

Sounds like you blew a sparkplug outta the head. Known problem on the 5.4L's, especially 01-02 Lightning motors. There's only like 4 threads holding the plug into the head.

Common problem, you'll get a new head installed. If it's out of warranty count on about $700 in parts + labor...

[LincMercLover]

Holy ****! You have GOT to be kidding me! How can I go tell? Just go out and pull the spark plug out of the head without having to loosen it? Damnit... :(

[LincMercLover]

Damnit... I hate it when you're right Logan! LOL, sorry, but thanks! I just steped out. While I was pulling the valve cover, I noticed one of the coil packs broke away from the mounting bolt. I figured I just accidentally leaned on it wrong and broke it and didn't notice it till then. Low and behold, I pull the coil pack out and there's my spark plug, nice a fried. No warrenty... 101000 miles and it's a 1998. God, this sucks... Do you think trying to put in another spark plug is even worth it? I don't see any of my head left on the spark plug... Man, I'm REALLY depressed now... :(

[Larry Vogel]

I would have thought a head gasket was the problem, but 4 threads to hold a plug, what A-Hole engineer designed that??!!!

[LincMercLover]

That's what I'm saying! What moron thought only 4 threads would be good enoph?!?! And not only that, what moron decided to put the plug like 4 inches into the head?!?! Anyway, here's what happens to the plug when they shoot out of the head...

http://publish.hometown.aol.com/kprrpk/images/plug.jpg

Is that not some ****nit?:mad:

[JamesHecker]

I am really sorry that happened to you, but I am so impressed at how useful this board is. That you can describe a problem and have it diagnosed here is awesome. And posting the picture of it, talking about the issue, making others aware of it. This is really a great forum!

[jefferson-mo]

Sorry guys the $700 heads are history. You're lookin' at a lot more now.

Jefferson
Ford parts guy

[grzellmer]

LincMerc

If its $700 plus for the heads and the motor's got 100K+ on it,
looks like a motor replacement might be in order.

Maybe that 460 you mentioned?

GZ

[LincMercLover]

I dunno... I think I'm going to go get another spark plug and try using my tap and die to see if I can't get it back in. It's worth a shot, isn't like the head's already screwed as is... Oh well... we shall see. I'll keep ya's updated!

[Macon Marauder]

Dang! You beat me to it. That's what I was gonna suggest!

I don't know anything about the 5.4L - but it's hard for me to beleive replacing the head is the only option.

This design definitely was not one of Ford's "better ideas."

[Logan]

You can't do that, you end up with aluminum shards down in your cylinder which will destroy your motor completely. Only option is to pull the head and replace it. Been there done that. :)

[bnvus]

What about a Helicoil? Still have to pull the head. I was able to do this on my old bug. Magnesium at that!

All else fails check out the internet junkyard.

Automotive Heaven (http://www.car-part.com/)

[LincMercLover]

I don't see how small aluminum shards would affect it. It's not really a tap, but more like just to clean out the threads. It's got (or well HAD...) the diode and ground prongs burnt off the plug and down in the cylinder, and evidentally all that is in my CATS by now... We'll see what happens, I dunno... If it doesn't work, I can clean out the cylinder when I replace the heads.

[Leadfoot]

Originally posted by LincMercLover
I don't see how small aluminum shards would affect it. It's not really a tap, but more like just to clean out the threads. It's got (or well HAD...) the diode and ground prongs burnt off the plug and down in the cylinder, and evidentally all that is in my CATS by now... We'll see what happens, I dunno... If it doesn't work, I can clean out the cylinder when I replace the heads.

When you run the tap and clean the threads, the crap you clean out will end up in the cylinder and likely between the ring and wall or in the valves and create quite a mess. Don't do any work on the heads with them on. Clean the threads out with the heads off.

RUN A COMPRESSION TEST. Burnt off electrodes usually means it has run too lean. If the 5.4s have the same type of cast pistons as the 4.6s, then you may have damaged pistons (maybe cracked ring lands). Also, if it ran lean enough for long enough, the heads and block may need to be decked. Check that as well. I don't think a loose spark plug alone would burn off the electrode. It would just leak.

[Logan]

I've seen it happen. On the 5.4's, the spark plug can actually be loose enough to lean out that one cylinder enough to burn out the plug and eventually send it and the coil pack flying. I've seen em go with enough force to dent the hood.

[Madhouse]

Launched mine this morning on the way to work... :mad: Rear-most plug on the passenger side, destroyed the coil pack with it.

[Fourth Horseman]

Originally posted by Larry Vogel
I would have thought a head gasket was the problem, but 4 threads to hold a plug, what A-Hole engineer designed that??!!!

That's exactly what I was thinking when I read his post.

[LincMercLover]

Damn Madhouse. What is up with this, huh? Mine was the second to last plug on the passenger side.

[Leadfoot]

Originally posted by Logan
I've seen it happen. On the 5.4's, the spark plug can actually be loose enough to lean out that one cylinder enough to burn out the plug and eventually send it and the coil pack flying. I've seen em go with enough force to dent the hood.

After thinking about it, that does make some sense. If it is loose, air could be sucked passed the plug during the intake stroke and lean out that cylinder.

For those of you who have experienced it, I'll suggest it again: run a compression test to make sure everything else is OK.

This makes me want to go tighten all my spark plugs including my lawnmower. I'm glad I have the 4.6 in my F-150.

[Larry Vogel]

What the hell, try some epoxy on a new plug

[Directedby]

Might be tough to do a compression check on that cylinder considering the threads are stripped. Won't be able to hook up the hose/tester.

If you tap the head with it on, the small metal shards will damage the cylinder wall and/or the o rings on the piston.

[LincMercLover]

Epoxy?!?! Umm... I do plan on changing the spark plugs again sometime. I HAVE to keep this truck. :(

[LincMercLover]

You all are not going to believe this. I go to Auto Zone to pick-up and spark plug thread chaser and one new plug. I get home and I'm sitting around, taking a break from looking at that sad 5.4L, comparing my roasted spark plug to the new one I just bought. I notice the end's a little longer. I check the numbers, and they don't match! I cross the number online and find that plug is a V6 plug! I go out to the truck and pull another plug. ANOTHER V6 plug! OMFG! They sold me the wrong plugs! Well, now it's time to find my receipt and ***** out the manager, or burn down the store... either one sounds good to me! Urgh... I'm so not happy right now! :mad:

[cyclone03]

LML,
The old plugs are short?Or the new ones?
I'm sure you have allready done this,run you thread chase into the head to knock off the carbon then in stall the correct plug if it holds keep driving.
This engine has 100k on it IF the piston isn't burned I wouldn't worry about damage,it's already done.
My thinking behind this is it's a work truck (tool) why spend several thousand on a repair when it's going to need a new engine anyway.
Do a cheap repair and see if it works.

[cyclone03]

If you want before you start tapping the threads pack the tap flutes with heavy grease this will catch most of the cut pieces.

[Logan]

I would shine a flashlight down there. Usually when the plugs go, they take more material than just the threads.

[cyclone03]

True Logan.
But cheap is worth a try.

[LincMercLover]

The old plugs (the plugs I first bought to replace the origanals) are a wee bit longer than what they're supposed to be. First I'm going to take all my plugs out, go to Auto Zone, and let loose. Then I'll come home, replace all my other plugs, and start in on my problem cylinder. If all goes well, and the motor starts without noise, then I'll have to put my valve cover back on, reattach that power box and go drive hard. If she doesn't blow up after a few 4000 clicks, then she SHOULD be ok... If not, I dunno, depends on what my Dad wants to do with it. If he doesn't care, I'll just epoxy it in and say screw it. Start gathering money for a head/cam kit from Edelbrock.

[Logan]

Cheap is always worth a try. :)

[Madhouse]

I stopped in to see the progress today:

http://home.houston.rr.com/toddandjen/lightning/Engine01_050.jpg

[Logan]

Ouch.

[LincMercLover]

Damn... what are they doing to it? Mine looks HALF that bad right now... Geez, that's the emptiest (I know that can't be a word) I've ever seen a F-150 engine bay!

[LincMercLover]

Well, I've tried everything! Ran a chase down it, and it runs fine. Try to put a spark plug in it, nadda, won't start. Chiseled a spark plug out to look like the chase, still doesn't work. Bought a heilicoli. Tapped it, worked fine, tried to install the coil, nadda, won't start. WTF?!?! I'm so pissed, I think I'm going to end up having it towed someplace and let them pull the head, cause I DO NOT feel like ripping the front end appart on the prick over my winter break. I JUST got my MM home, I'll have my '79 back on Tuesday, I WANT TO HAVE FUN! I'm still open to suggestions, as I've run out of ideas...

[MAD-3R]

A small stack, a long fuse and a 10 sec head start?

[bnvus]

A small stack, a long fuse and a 10 sec head start

HaHaHa....don't forget to get your story straight for the insurance.

Sorry it was kinda funny.

[chrish]

what ever happened?

[martyo]

Golden moldy alert!

[TAF]

Golden moldy alert!
that's just how chrish tries to contribute here...digging up bones.

[chrish]

that's just how chrish tries to contribute here...digging up bones.


Just giving a helping hand :help:

[TAF]

Just giving a helping hand :help:
you need to watch that "handy" stuff chrish...first you'll need glasses....then your high-beams will start flickering...... :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Racerx88]

Do we have any smilies for "old thread"?? :hide:

[jaywish]

Still I am kind of curious what happened in the end.

[RoyLPita]

Do you have spark? Sometimes the crank sensor can go, too.

[Bigdogjim]

what ever happened?

you my friend need a hobby:):):)

Almost 2 years old thread:lol:

I think the truck has been sold :confused: :help:

[CRUZTAKER]

Eww, I want to post too....:type:

[RoyLPita]

Ignore my last thread, please.

[NAVCHAP]

Your friendly neighborhood chaplain has just arrived, so now we can give this thread a decent burial, LOL. -kjs-

[chrish]

throu-out it long long life this thread has endeared & overcome all diversity

In it's finaL HOURS MANY FRIENDS OLD & new reviewed the highs & lows of its life........it was a well respected member of the comunity in which it came to live or in this case be stored.....we will miss this thread for the memeries of a past era...the glory days so to speak may it rest in peace


logan please hammer the last nail for us the witnesses on this glorious day...........

A day to remember in love not bitter postum................

thank you & good night........... :beer:

[Patrick]

Your friendly neighborhood chaplain has just arrived, so now we can give this thread a decent burial, LOL. -kjs-

R.I.P!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[QWK SVT]

Why must everyone take the opportunity to jump on a free post? :rolleyes:

:rofl:

[TripleTransAm]

Why must everyone take the opportunity to jump on a free post?


Kind of like the popular girl in school... everyone wants their turn.

;)

[Donny Carlson]

Another thread with no replies for a year has bubbled to the surface. Time to put the Closed sign out and put it out of its misery.

[RCSignals]

Wow, talk about rapid posting and being on top of an old thread. Just look at the post times for #37 to #41!
I hope none of you stopped quick.....

[Bigdogjim]

Another thread with no replies for a year has bubbled to the surface. Time to put the Closed sign out and put it out of its misery.

Well Donny it has really been almost 22 months since this thread was started? What does it take to kill it?

[Bigdogjim]

Hey Bunny and mercman are you asleep........................ ............