During my turbo install I had to remove the spark plugs to re-gap them. The car has over 27K miles with the original spark plugs. One of the plugs came out without the ground Electrode shield. This is the metal sleeve below the spark plug threads.

Apparently rust and carbon build up can cause the shield to seize against the cylinder head. There is a TSB for the 5.4L 3V engines in the F-150s, navigators etc. TSB 06-15-2 Special tools are required to remove the shield without having to remove the cylinder heads. Fortunatelly a friend have the special tools and I'll get them Monday. Ordered HTO spark plugs and should be here Tuesday.

I don't know what Ford is going to do about this known defect, but from now on I'll remove the spark plugs every 6K miles and coat the shield with the recomended nickel anti-seize lubricant.

If everything goes well, the Turbo should be done by Wednesday. Here are a few pics.
UPS delivery

Lots of parts!

Got started

Intercooler in

Turbo in

I'll post more pictures when I finish.

 

Good to see you again 1fast05.

 

That thing is gonna be bad azz. Can't wait for your thoughts after the installation. Oh yeah, and thanks for the heads up

 

What's the point of these special plugs? Why not use a proven product!

 

There is only so much room in the cylinder head for the valves, ports, and the plugs. The modular engines have spark plugs with a very long, thin, nose that is designed to fight this "space" problem. The long nose lets the threads be farther away from the combustion chamber. This means that the location of the valves can be optimized for flow, without having to be put in a compromised location just to fit the spark plug in there.

Apparently, one of the drawbacks to this design is that the plugs can easily sieze in place.

 

Hey Daniel, I check the site quite often but don't post a whole lot. Finally decided to go turbo instead of SC. The kit I'm installing is from Powerhouse411. Not an easy install if you're working out of your garage in jack stands but is doable and I enjoy doing the work. Got an 06 GT Vert for the wife, and the only mods I'm going to do to that car is the stuff I take out of mine, like the off road x-pipe, the flowmasters and the Predator tune at least until I get done with mine.

Here's a couple of pics of the Vert.

 

You should replace your old spark plugs with E3 spark Plugs or Silver spark plugs.

 

SICK!!!!!

I want to see more pics!

-DG

 

Hey I am really looking forward to your thoughts and some more pics as the torbo goes on!