Rockledge
Pluggin' away
Hi guys, this is my first post on this site.
First I would like to say thanks to all who participate in this and other Taurus and SHO forums. I was able to gather a heck of a lot of information about my "new" '94 MTX before I bought it, which allowed me to pick it up at a very good price( and helped me understand very well what I was getting into ...LOL) The information available has also allowed me to perform several maintenance items on the SHO in order to bring it up to *****. thumb
So far I've cleaned the engine bay, cleaned the TB & MAF, and put in a new battery, air filter and fuel filter. I've installed new plugs (only one plug well was little oily, but did not look like a catastrophe waiting to happen or anything) and Motorcraft wires, new oil and filter (Castrol GTX, Purolator PureOne), and changed out the fluid in the MTX (black)to some good Redline ATF. Also changed out the coolant and everything else you would do in a conventional tuneup. The result has been tremendous...this car has responded to that little bit of TLC like a champ..I know a good running engine when I'm wailing on it, and this thing is running sweet! I really enjoy driving it!
Anyway, my question involves sparks plugs. Evidently I did not read up enough on recommended plugs because now I see that Motorcraft plugs are the overwhelming choice of SHO owners. Now, I have always been a big proponent of using either Motorcraft or Autolite DPs in my other Fords (currently '98 Ranger 4.0L and '97 Taurus 3.0L vulcan) because of the EDIS "waste spark" type ignition systems they use. Like many other people, I was led to believe that ALL Motorcraft plugs have an exact Autolite replacement, but now I read that is not the case with MC's AGSP32PP Plug and Autolite's APP3924 in that the Autolites are slightly longer. This apparently has led to problems in some cases where the spark plug wire boots will not snap down on the plugs properly and leave a small gap between the boot "cover ******" and the valve cover surface, which prevents sealing of the plug well off from water and other contaminants. Reading this, I was surprised because I remembered how nicely my OEM Motorcraft wire boots snapped down on the Autolites that I put in. So, I immediately went out, popped the hood, and checked for this dreaded "gap"...however, there is no gap! I’m not exaggerating when I say that the plugs and wires are a perfect fit, and there is a very nice seal between the valve cover surface and the plug boot ******.
So what’s up with that? Do you think that the newer plugs/and or wires have been modified in some way? (BTW, I torqued the plugs to specs). Believe me, if I thought there was even the slightest chance of a problem with the plugs and wires on my SHO, I would not hesitate to replace the plugs again at the drop of a hat. But I see no problem whatsoever...I even pulled off a boot and snapped it back on, and it clicked in place leaving no dreaded gap ...and as I said earlier, the car is really running super. Any opinions?
Sorry about the long post, I guess as a newbie I have a lot to say!
P.S. Here is a picture of my new baby:
First I would like to say thanks to all who participate in this and other Taurus and SHO forums. I was able to gather a heck of a lot of information about my "new" '94 MTX before I bought it, which allowed me to pick it up at a very good price( and helped me understand very well what I was getting into ...LOL) The information available has also allowed me to perform several maintenance items on the SHO in order to bring it up to *****. thumb
So far I've cleaned the engine bay, cleaned the TB & MAF, and put in a new battery, air filter and fuel filter. I've installed new plugs (only one plug well was little oily, but did not look like a catastrophe waiting to happen or anything) and Motorcraft wires, new oil and filter (Castrol GTX, Purolator PureOne), and changed out the fluid in the MTX (black)to some good Redline ATF. Also changed out the coolant and everything else you would do in a conventional tuneup. The result has been tremendous...this car has responded to that little bit of TLC like a champ..I know a good running engine when I'm wailing on it, and this thing is running sweet! I really enjoy driving it!
Anyway, my question involves sparks plugs. Evidently I did not read up enough on recommended plugs because now I see that Motorcraft plugs are the overwhelming choice of SHO owners. Now, I have always been a big proponent of using either Motorcraft or Autolite DPs in my other Fords (currently '98 Ranger 4.0L and '97 Taurus 3.0L vulcan) because of the EDIS "waste spark" type ignition systems they use. Like many other people, I was led to believe that ALL Motorcraft plugs have an exact Autolite replacement, but now I read that is not the case with MC's AGSP32PP Plug and Autolite's APP3924 in that the Autolites are slightly longer. This apparently has led to problems in some cases where the spark plug wire boots will not snap down on the plugs properly and leave a small gap between the boot "cover ******" and the valve cover surface, which prevents sealing of the plug well off from water and other contaminants. Reading this, I was surprised because I remembered how nicely my OEM Motorcraft wire boots snapped down on the Autolites that I put in. So, I immediately went out, popped the hood, and checked for this dreaded "gap"...however, there is no gap! I’m not exaggerating when I say that the plugs and wires are a perfect fit, and there is a very nice seal between the valve cover surface and the plug boot ******.
So what’s up with that? Do you think that the newer plugs/and or wires have been modified in some way? (BTW, I torqued the plugs to specs). Believe me, if I thought there was even the slightest chance of a problem with the plugs and wires on my SHO, I would not hesitate to replace the plugs again at the drop of a hat. But I see no problem whatsoever...I even pulled off a boot and snapped it back on, and it clicked in place leaving no dreaded gap ...and as I said earlier, the car is really running super. Any opinions?
Sorry about the long post, I guess as a newbie I have a lot to say!
P.S. Here is a picture of my new baby:
