Spark Plug ?, What Happened? Some Close up Pictures... Updated

[Mkos1980]

Re: Spark Plug ?, What Happened? Some Close up Pictures... Updated

Those are good Injectors. For $214.95 You cant beat it for 8 of them. I've used Ford Racing Injectors in alot of projects and have never had one go bad.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Spark Plug ?, What Happened? Some Close up Pictures... Updated

Rebuild the whole thing. You're halfway there now.

 

[Squid Billy]

Re: Spark Plug ?, What Happened? Some Close up Pictures... Updated

As far as wrong plug issue, you would think all 8 would look the same or close to it. Makes you wonder if it was that rare defective plug ... sometimes it's such a simple thing as that, that makes you not even entertain that idea and you end up rebuilding a motor because of it.

 

[holgo123]

Re: Spark Plug ?, What Happened? Some Close up Pictures... Updated

You have talked me in to it... I am going to pull the motor and complete a rebuild... It will give me "peace of mind" because of a couple of things... The low compression in #1 and #5, a repeating noise I can't figure out (may just be my imagination since I am trying to convince myself...), and years ago, my buddy and I rebuilt a motor on the top end only to have a failure on the bottom end right after the build... Besides this will save me a ton of money in gas since I won't be out on the water for a while... My wife and daughter (and her friends) are gong to love this...

 

[holgo123]

Re: Spark Plug ?, What Happened? Some Close up Pictures... Updated

I finally finished swapping everything over to a long block... It was going to be cheaper than the parts needed and a local machine shop. I have installed the motor in the boat and cleaned all electrical connections... Suprisingly, the motor did not need any aligning adjustments. The alignment tool slid right in and the driveshaft did also when I installed the drive... I replaced the fuel injectors, water pump, hoses, belts, thermostat, and got the correct plugs... I am all primed up and will turn the key tomorrow in the driveway with muffs to set the timing and then head to the lake for the start of the "break in" period... Wish me luck...

 

[jp89bayliner]

Re: Spark Plug ?, What Happened? Some Close up Pictures... Updated

Does anyone know what the "shorting bar" does in the process of setting timing on a Ford/OMC 5.0 l EFI/MPI? I just re-read the instructions on setting the timing and noticed I was suppose to disconnect it when setting the timing. I didn't do this... Also, the plugs I put in this time look like "hot" plugs... They have a lot of exposed ceramic area deep in to the plug. I am going to try and find the recommended plugs, AC-MR43T. I am also going to pull the lifters/check the valves and see if I can find any problems. Can I use an automotive gasket set to put it back together? Any suggestions?

I am glad you got her ready to go. Have you figured out the shorting bar. I have been a big fan of the 5.0 mustang's for years and I currently have a supercharged 89 with a 347 stroker. The shorting bar your refering to is what is used to set base timming on your motor. I know on the auto 5.0 there is a plug that ends with a two wire connection that ends right were the dist is. When you unplug the jumper it takes the computer/ignition advance out of the loop.

Iam not sure if your motor is the same but if you set your timming with the plug in your timming was way off. With you setting your timming with the jumper bar in you could of had spark jump between cylinders thus causing detonation, missing and the ticking you once heard.

On another thought when you did your comp check did you give each cyl a complete cyl. What I mean is did you let each cylinder cyl go thru compression , exsaust, stroke at least five time's? If not you might of not got a good reading.

At the service shop I manage we have heads off many late 80s early ninety ford mustang 302 and have seen cross hatching still on the cylinder walls well beyond 150,000 miles. Good luck with the start up and make sure you following the timming procedure to the tee and you should be very happy.

 

[holgo123]

Re: Spark Plug ?, What Happened? Some Close up Pictures... Updated

Thanks for the info... I may have caused the initial problem by not using the shorting bar... I also had the wrong temperature plugs which I feel was an issue and I didn't cross the plug wires on #1/#2 & #5/#6 cylinders.
I did get the engine running and ran it for about 10 minutes on the muffs at about 1500 rpms throttling up and down a little to start the break in. I got it to running temperature and set the timing with the shorting bar pulled off. It sounds good. Oil pressure was right at 40 psi, temp right at 160 degrees, and no leaks...
It did cut off a couple of times when I throttled down to idle quickly. I re-adjusted the throttle cable, checked the oil level and will check that out when I take it to the lake this week for break-in runs.
On a "side note", I was having trouble with 3 guages, trim, fuel and temperature. Trim stopped working, and the other 2 were "jumpy". I cleaned all the connections I could find and made a grounding jumper from the grounding point with the negative battery terminal wire to the other ground point on the back of the engine. The guages all work properly now...
I can't imagine how many hours everybody on this forum spends working on their boats. Man, it is a labor of love I guess...

 

[jp89bayliner]

Re: Spark Plug ?, What Happened? Some Close up Pictures... Updated

Thanks for the info... I may have caused the initial problem by not using the shorting bar... I also had the wrong temperature plugs which I feel was an issue and I didn't cross the plug wires on #1/#2 & #5/#6 cylinders.
I did get the engine running and ran it for about 10 minutes on the muffs at about 1500 rpms throttling up and down a little to start the break in. I got it to running temperature and set the timing with the shorting bar pulled off. It sounds good. Oil pressure was right at 40 psi, temp right at 160 degrees, and no leaks...
It did cut off a couple of times when I throttled down to idle quickly. I re-adjusted the throttle cable, checked the oil level and will check that out when I take it to the lake this week for break-in runs.
On a "side note", I was having trouble with 3 guages, trim, fuel and temperature. Trim stopped working, and the other 2 were "jumpy". I cleaned all the connections I could find and made a grounding jumper from the grounding point with the negative battery terminal wire to the other ground point on the back of the engine. The guages all work properly now...
I can't imagine how many hours everybody on this forum spends working on their boats. Man, it is a labor of love I guess...

Glad to hear you got it running. My amp and fuel gauge bouce aroung some too. But when I bump the throttle and start cruising they stedy up. Mine probley does this cause I idle my boat at the lowest rpm I can. I set it about 500 rpm or lower . I lower my rpm until it is just about to die and then bring it back up just hair. So maybee that is why your gauges are jumping around. Just a thought.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Spark Plug ?, What Happened? Some Close up Pictures... Updated

Good job, man. I like the way you detailed it when reassembling. Looks really good. Make sure to follow the recommended break-in procedure to the letter. Best of luck.