Look what came out of my truck today

[blert]

Don't know how it was running just fine with no codes or issues. The third busted piece is still in the old wire.
Don't mind the squashed gap... it got dropped.

 

[swshawaii]

Wow, surprised it wasn't misfiring. Bet they were screeching loudly on the way out.

Replaced with Motorcraft SP-500 or Autolite 103 Series?

 

[curtis james]

I agree with swshaw,,WOW.. how many miles did you get out of them?

 

[blert]

They didn't put up much of a fight coming out. Busted my knuckle on #5 when it let go and sent my finger into the corner of the power steering reservoir. I have no idea how it was not misfiring, it was running fine, no problems, just bad gas milage.
Replaced with sp500.

Let's see... I put those in shortly after I bought the truck... 17 years ago. About 70k miles on them.

 

[swshawaii]

^ YES, Motorcraft SP-500 FTW!

Those are probably Autolite AP103 (copper center electrodes) and don't appear to be plated. Don't care what many say about not using copper or nickel anti seize on threads because it affects torque and grounding. I will always use anti seize sparingly on ANY plug installed in aluminum heads regardless of the planned replacement mileage interval.

@blert
How are your "custom" front sway bar end links working for you? Feel any difference?

 

[curtis james]

If you do not lose skin working on a vehicle then you did something wrong.

 

[blert]

Motorcraft SP-500 FTW.

Those are probably Autolite AP103 (copper center electrodes) and don't appear to be plated. Don't care what many say about not using copper or nickel anti seize on threads because it affects torque and grounding. I will always use anti seize sparingly on ANY plug installed in aluminum heads regardless of the planned replacement mileage interval.

@blert
How are your "custom" front sway bar end links working for you? Feel any difference?

Yup, ap103's for sure, I was cheap back then. I did use copper anti-seize, personally see no reason not to. I just put a small glob on and used a paint brush to spread it so there was just a thin coating. Torqued to about 120inch-pounds, which is about middle-range according to my Haynes manual.

The front end feels good. It feels a lot tighter than it ever has.

If you do not lose skin working on a vehicle then you did something wrong.

I must have done a bunch right then because my arms and hands look like I got in a fight with a bag of cats.

 

[swshawaii]

And mechanics gloves just don't work when replacing spark plugs. It requires "feel", and you lose all feel using clumsy and sweaty gloves.

Must say, the "easy" job that embarrassed me was PCV valve replacement. Hard metal coolant line and frustration from confinement caused me to break the plastic "nubs" inside the valve cover that hold the PCV valve. Ended up semi- permanently securing the valve with black RTV. Lucky for me the replacement interval is around 100,000 miles.

OK, double rant over. LOL

 

[blert]

My hands barely fit as is, hence the damage to my hands and arms. No way gloves would work for this job.

 

[Phil Frady]

I used high dollar locking plug wires once and mine looked like those.

 

[blert]

I used high dollar locking plug wires once and mine looked like those.

Factory wires. Heat and age just got to them, I should have replaced those plugs a long time ago. Should have replaced the wires a long time ago too... 22 years and 130k on original wires, lol.

 

[swshawaii]

Bought a custom set of Taylor ThunderVolt 8.2mm spark plug wires years ago for around $90 with hopes of ANY performance or MPG gain. Nope, not even my "butt dyno" could tell a difference. In hindsight I should have bought TWO sets of OEM Motorcraft WR-6120 wires for around the same price. Must say the Taylor's are nice under hood eye candy but nothing more.

 

[Steve Brothers]

Now Blert, you are such a social influencer. I’ve replaced most of the usual suspects on my 2001, but the plug wires are still original. Only 121K miles, but the age! Guess the wires are next!

 

[blert]

Bought a custom set of Taylor ThunderVolt 8.2mm spark plug wires years ago for around $90 with hopes of ANY performance or MPG gain. Nope, not even my "butt dyno" could tell a difference. In hindsight I should have bought TWO sets of OEM Motorcraft WR-6120 wires for around the same price. Must say the Taylor's are nice under hood eye candy but nothing more.

Did you get the red ones? They have to be the red ones to see any performance increase. Everyone knows red increases horsepower, handling, and braking.

Now Blert, you are such a social influencer. I’ve replaced most of the usual suspects on my 2001, but the plug wires are still original. Only 121K miles, but the age! Guess the wires are next!

So I can pester businesses for free stuff in exchange for exposure now? I mean, I do have more than zero followers on Reddit.