They look a little more like 1 3/4 to 2 to me . But I'm not a tour cart expert.
What did you do to your other vehicle today?
- Thread starter Zorba
- Start date
Wife's 2012 Grand Cherokee. 95% highway miles. 5.7L; new transfer case, water pump, and transmission.
Helped a friend change plugs, coils and vvt sensors on his F150. The back two plugs are a nightmare to reach. Now i understand why people don't change them.
Regular maintenance prevented me from making progress on my LJ build today:
- Wife's daily driver ('21 Subaru Impreza) - finished the 60k service by changing engine air filter, cabin air filter, spark plugs, and brake fluid.
- My daily driver ('98 Subaru Impreza) - removed the radiator because it was leaking badly from the crimp for the top tank and ordered a Koyo Racing 2-row aluminum radiator because they don't make OEM radiators anymore, and the aftermarket radiators run very hot in the hot Texas summers when the A/C is on. I just hope it stays together and actually cools in the summer.
5.4 3v. Have to completely remove the computer to achieve just enough room to drop a plug socket down the hole. Then. Comes the task of getting an extension on, let alone a ratchet. Damn things are 8 inches into the firewall and you maybe get 3 inches of swing before hitting something else. Engineers suck.
Don't blame the engineers. We take orders just like everyone else. The body was designed for a smaller engine. Marketing said we need a truck with a 5.4 to compete. Bean counters said to build it. Engineers said we need another two inches for maintenance. Bean counters said no way, just stuff it in there. Engineers-said-but they won't be able to change the plugs! Bean counters said Great, we'll sell them a new truck...
Then ford say build an engine that will last approximately 100,000 miles till the power train warranty runs out!!! Oh and make sure the VVT and cam phasers, timing chain tensioners and guides are crappy to.
That way we can sell more new trucks!!!!!
I used to be all in on Ford. I have owned more Fords than any other brand (well it's close between Ford and AMC/Jeep)
Ford lost me when the dumped the 460 gas engine, and they let International ditch the 7.3 Diesel.
I am on a quest in the next 5 years to find me a late 80's to 97 F350 4x4 with a 460 in it. That should last me the rest of my life and tow whatever I hook to!!!!
Your friend is lucky to have the 3-valve 5.4L. My 2-valve 5.4L had a neat feature where the engine would eject the plugs when they needed to be changed. Even after the so-called insert "fix" was performed...
I put a new long block in that vehicle, and I now change the plugs every 25k to attempt to prevent it from happening again. Changing the plugs isn't so bad once you figure out the Goldbergian setup of extensions and swivels needed to get those back two plugs out... (still, I do long for a better design)
People hate them out here the way fuel prices are. The ones i see are dirt cheap. The diesels still hold their value though
Make that a mere 60,000 miles.
Then let's all get together and build a 10 speed transmission and put it in Ford and GM trucks and let them shiz the bed before the first oil change.
Couldn't even con Ram into using it. They went to Toyota.
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Oh I'm blaming the engineers.
Between the front grill and the font of the block there is at least 18 inches. The trans cooler sits 4 inches in front of the condenser and radiator. The fan is a solid 8 inches and the shroud is 3 inches beyond the fan. Surely a 5th grade could have figured out how to slide everything forward a few inches. If not, our schools are worse than I thought.
A company by the name of SteelCase and mandates every single truck driver they hire must wash trucks for 2 years before being allowed to drive...every truck they have on the road is pristine. If engineers were made to do the same, maybe they would grow a backbone and stand up to those sissy bean counters.
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Diesels are way over priced here.
I have had both, for just normal stuff gas is cheaper to maintain.
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