I officialy hate Fords(or used to...)

Topic: I officialy hate Fords(or used to...) (Read 3586 times) previous topic - next topic

I officialy hate Fords(or used to...)

January 06, 2005, 07:36:34 PM

Ok, at least old fords.
I managed to get 4 of 6 spark plugs replaced, the ones I got out came out easily after spraying some wd-40 on them. When it came to do the passenger side that's when I ran into trouble. I could only get the center spark plug out. The front one is impossible, I should've know because the spark plug in there is the original spark plug, guess it's really hard to change that one. The back one is hard because of the 2 metal pipes that run near the vavle cover. So I couldn't get in there with either of my rachet wrenches.
The front spark plug is so old it is rusted at the bolt part. How do I get to the others? Why did they make it so hard!?

I don't think I have yet to not run into a problem when replacing stuff on this car.

Fuel filter, I didn't think how much gas it held and I spilled it all over me and the ground...I stunk for a while...got high too.

Air filter, omg, this pissed me off, cause when I replaced it I cleaned out the whole housing, and those tubes wouldn't come off.

Oil filter, the book at pepboys told me to buy this big honking one. Got home, drained my oil, removed old one, looked at my old one and the new one, thought, ok, this isn't going to fit. I had to ride my bike back to pep boys. I returned the big one and went to the back to see if they stocked the wrong one, nope, the computer said it was the right one for my car, I said, can't be, it's too wide. So as I was leaving the store empty handed and very angry, the guy comes up and hands me the right one. I need the filter for a 88t-bird...

Battery, god , I went through 3 of them in less than a month, free replacement rocks though.

Spark plugs, read...

So, unless you can convince me that these are good cars, I'm never going to buy one again, cause I was hoping to get a mid 90s cougar to replace this one later in life. There's a 92, red, with tan 'covertible' top for 2500 a mile from me.

Re: I officialy hate Fords.

Reply #1 – January 06, 2005, 07:52:48 PM

First time I bought a oil filter for my cougar they told me it was the PH8A (Fram) but it wasn't the right one. The right one for an 87 3.8 is the PH3600. For the spark plug that is closest to the front on the passenger side you need to use a 3/8 ratchet with a swivel socket. If I remember right 1/2 was too big to fit in there. The one in the back I didn't have much of a problem with. I kinda agree with you. I like my cougar, but I hate the 3.8.

Re: I officialy hate Fords.

Reply #2 – January 06, 2005, 08:10:35 PM

My dad needed a gasket for a dodge rear end for his old truck. They told him that dodge never made a 10 bold differential cover. I had the same problem with parts when I got my fuel filter. Finally I just brought it in dumped it down on their counter(gas and all) and told them I needed one of these. I'll bet if you do the same thing they will actually look for the right one.

Re: I officialy hate Fords.

Reply #3 – January 06, 2005, 08:14:46 PM

Just wait till you have to replace the o2 :shoothead sensor on it.
I fought with the one on my bird for about 3 hours before I got it out.

Re: I officialy hate Fords.

Reply #4 – January 06, 2005, 08:19:01 PM

All of my V8 Birds and Cougars used the Fram PH8A (or Motorcraft FL1A, or Canadian Tire 1704, or Delco PF2C) filter. I think all Ford Windsor V8's (and probably most other older Ford engines) use that filter. I'm pretty sure my old carbureted 3.8 used it too.

The V6 uses a skinnier filter, doesn't it? I seem to remember my '91 V6 Bird used a long, thin filter...

Toxik: Before you slam Fords open the hood of other cars. Just about anything without overhead camshafts is a pain in the ass to get at the pugs nowadays because of all the emissions and EFI stuff on the engines. Hell, even some WITH overhead cams are a pain - ever change the plugs in a GM "Twin Dual Cam" 3.4?

The fuel filter isn't the car's fault - you should know just by the size of it how much fuel it holds. The battery isn't the car's fault either - you're just either getting shiznitty batteries or the battery isn't the original problem. Perhaps the voltage regulator took a dump?

That being said, if you want a trouble-free car, stay away from anything with a 3.8. There may be a few that have reported great reliability with this engine (I'm looking at you, Shawn) but for every one that had a good experience there are dozens that had bad, including yours truly (I got 270,000 miles out of the carbureted '85 with no problems but the EFI '91 blew head gaskets twice and spun a rod bearing once).

If that '92 is a V6 walk away. Hold out for a 5.0 version.

Re: I officialy hate Fords.

Reply #5 – January 06, 2005, 08:37:36 PM

i hate fords because i cant change the spark plugs and i got the wrong parts?

you want to be convinced to buy another ford, i have the "dreaded 3.8", almost 180K miles on it, and the only serious thing thats happened to it was a water pump

as for oil filter, i have a PH3600 on mine

Re: I officialy hate Fords.

Reply #6 – January 06, 2005, 08:39:45 PM

gezz , im gonna get nasty here but oh well...

lets start off nice
Use a socket on the V6 number one plug that has the HEX shape on the end. Install the socket on the plug. Place a box in wrench on the end of the spark plug socket. Loosen plug and replace it in the same manner. After the plug is tight,, snap in our 3/8 drive wratchet on the spark plug and finish it off.

as for the fuel filter,, ,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,, SO WHAT :grinno:

as for the rear plug and any other plug,,, Get some tools! or make one that works for your car. IF i can make my own tools from s shiznit laying around,, whats your problem? Im just a dumb ass white boy from west virginia anyways.

as for the oil filter,,, yeah he's right and its a PH8A for many 6 and 8 cyl engines as well as my tractor 4cyl continental engine Z71 made in 1952. No, the v6 does not call out anything different from the 8 cyl.

as for reliablity,, all engines are pretty much created equal. Maintain them and you probably will get many miles. I hit 305,000 before i rebuilt and i could have just not rebuilt at all but i did for the heck of it.

as for the air filter,,, give me a freaking break~~~~~ :brick:

so , in a nutshell what you really wanted to say is the following.....
"man, tune up work aint all its cracked up to be since i dont really do it often. I really did not know what i was up against but i finally figured out where everything was and got the job done. I really feel much better now know my car had some new snitz put on because it really needed it."

otherwise, if the above were not the case,, id just say you dont even need to be tinkering with cars at all if your gonna go postal of a simple ass tune up.

btw,,, all this meant in good fun so before you get the cance,,
:2gunsfiri
i just shot myself,,,he he

Re: I officialy hate Fords.

Reply #7 – January 06, 2005, 08:47:00 PM

Quote from: Tbird232ci

i have the "dreaded 3.8"

The only thing I dread about my 3.8 is when I step on the gas :giggle:
I haven't had any problems with mine either and I am about 169,400 miles.

Re: I officialy hate Fords.

Reply #8 – January 06, 2005, 08:52:24 PM

is there something rather toxic about this thread

Re: I officialy hate Fords.

Reply #9 – January 06, 2005, 10:23:10 PM

Alright, I finally got really pissed and went out to replace the last two.
In the wheel well theres a hole, just for a socket wrench to fit in to get at the rear plug.
I had to put a plug socket over the front one and use a ratchet wrench to get it loose, took forever because I could only get 1 click in on the wrench on both plugs...
And there was an original spark plug in the front pass, a motorcraft, horrible condition, lots of build up, rust, burn marks on the ceramic part...
I'm sorry for being such a noob...

Jcassity, how were you able to get your engine to last past 300K miles? I rarely see cars live beyond that without extensive engine work.

Re: I officialy hate Fords(or used to...)

Reply #10 – January 06, 2005, 10:37:57 PM

you think you got probs cahnging plugs you should try on my SC

as for engines lasting well preemptive mantence.just as long as you maintain the up keep it should last you awhile.

Re: I officialy hate Fords(or used to...)

Reply #11 – January 06, 2005, 10:56:52 PM

I'm guessing he just did regular maitenence, most any FI engine will (with a little luck and no blatient manufacturing defects) get 200K miles. I drove a Ford F350 for 400 000 miles with no problems my self. Be religious about maitenence and expect many dependable miles out of your car.

FYI: A swivel socket (13/16" for these engines) works wonders on removing plugs in tight places. Their about $8. The smog lines on the drivers size can be bent a little to make way for the ratchet.

Its also nice to apply antisieze to the plugs you reinstall.

I think the SC 3.8L is on my top ten "dislike to work on" engines. Currently Isuzu (aka "Duramax") diesels are number 1.

Re: I officialy hate Fords.

Reply #12 – January 07, 2005, 12:01:23 AM

Changing the plugs on a fox-chassis Cougar/Thunderbird is easy compared to any other car. Ever seen an LT1? Yeah...
As for the fuel filter, that's normal... so... yeah.

I put 40,000 miles on my '86 V6 Cougar, and I put 30,000 miles on my '88 XR7, and they were incredibly dependable cars.

Try changing the oil filter on an MN12... holy hell.

Quote from: jcassity

Im just a dumb ass white boy from west virginia anyways.

Speak for yourself! :D

Re: I officialy hate Fords.

Reply #13 – January 07, 2005, 12:38:56 AM

Quote from: cougarcragar

I put 40,000 miles on my '86 V6 Cougar, and I put 30,000 miles on my '88 XR7, and they were incredibly dependable cars.

What? that's all you got out of them? 30 and 40 thousand? Jeez, that's a short-lived vehicle :grinno:

Re: I officialy hate Fords(or used to...)

Reply #14 – January 07, 2005, 12:42:54 AM

Hey, I seem to have massively screwed up some ligament or whatever in my left arm from doing the tune-up on my '86 3.8, (sharp pains on the inside of the elbow joint area if I extend my left arm fully.. which sucks a little extra seeing as I'm left-handed and tend to favor using it) but I'm not swearing off Fords/Fox T-birds over it. I'm just glad I got it done.. plugs, plug wires, cap, rotor, oil and filter change. I feel a little stupid for doing it BEFORE planning on removing the smog pump and all the lines, (which I still haven't done) but I'm glad it's done.