SC plug change Q's

lazybird4pt6

Registered User
Hey all, what's up?
Just curious, I changed Dwayne's plugs and wires on Sunday and did them in less than 2 hours. Is this quick? He was telling me that Ford wanted $500 bucks to do this - are they smoking crack??? I figured I wouldn't have a problem ('cuz i'm soooo skinny) so I went up there and did it. The intake track (up to, but not including, the throttle body) had to come out, but that's one hose clamp - so what! No big deal. The only problem I DID have was the oil dipstick tube, but I just removed it, changed the stuff then put it back on. Piece of cake! So what's everyone complaining about?!?!?! What a bunch of whiny babies, must be a SC thing (JOKE - I'M ENTITLED!!!) So i'll probably do his buddies (Joe) car next weekend. Anyone else, I don't charge $500 like Ford does!!

BTW - Dwayne has never brought his car to a club meet yet, it was misfiring - badly. This was corrected when I found #4 plug wire cut in half. The next time he comes out he says he'll bring it. It is a nice car, fast too!
 
Oh yeah, a guy at a (Midas) garage said the motor had to be pulled to change the plugs, WTF does he think it is a 5.7L Camaro???
Don't get ripped off guys, if you need plugs and wires changed let ME know, there are too many "rip off artists" out there, what a pathetic joke the industry has become - i'm almost ashamed to be a "car guy". If I can help someone save $$$ then i'm in!!
 
I have NOOOOOOO problems on my motor, its a SC motor for sure but in a mustang there is LOTS of room, I can change them in 20min :)
 
We charge $129.95 labour at the dealership for a tune-up on an SC, including plugs, PCV, air and fuel filter. Wires are an additional $70.00 or so. So whatever Ford dealer told him $500 was just trying to blow him off because they probably didn't want to do it ... looks like it worked !!


cheers
Ed N.
 
Hey Kirk, was that while talking on the "factory phone" or not ? OOPS, I forgot, it doesn't actually function .... :D



cheers
Ed N.
 
SORRY STEVE!!!!
Anyways, just wanted to inquire. I might do mine before winter. What should that take? Oh yeah, 4.6, 20 minutes? Sorry, couldn't help it!!
Anyone have info on wires? Are they worth the $150 or should that money go elsewhere.
I'm going to be replacing u-joints VERY soon, as well as installing a tranny cooler and oil filter relocating kit, maybe this weekend, (REALLY bad in 4.6 - don't ask) as preventative maintenance and convenience measures, but want a little more from the car. I'm starting to lean towards 3.55 gears. I know an after-cat exhaust (don't worry Ed, I remember) and an EEC tuner are in store (yup, you guessed it - vacation pay!) but I want more. Oh yeah, MAF too, for sure! No, no blower yet! Christmas '03 at the earliest!
Any advice guys?? Tranny shift kit?
Give me some (good) ideas guys.

BTW - Steve, what did you do about your TPS voltage????
 
Anyone have info on wires? Are they worth the $150 or should that money go elsewhere.
I think they are worth the price. I know a few people that have gone to cheep wire sets and suffered poor performance.

I'm starting to lean towards 3.55 gears
Get em. I believe you were the one that convinced me to go with the 3:55 gears and I love them.

EEC tuner are in store
No comment necessary. Here is a sample file so that you can see what values can be changed.

Courtesy of Dr. Fred.ENJOY.

FIRST_GEAR_RATIO 2.83997 # First gear ratio
SECOND_GEAR_RATIO 1.55554 # Second gear ratio
THIRD_GEAR_RATIO 1 # Third gear ratio
FOURTH_GEAR_RATIO 0.697998 # Fourth gear ratio
WOT_1_2_SHIFTPOINT 4250 # WOT 1-2 shift point
WOT_2_3_SHIFTPOINT 4750 # WOT 2-3 shift point
WOT_3_4_SHIFTPOINT 5000 # WOT 3-4 shift point
MIN_ECT_FOR_TORQUE_CONTROL 126 # Minimum ECT to allow torque control

SECOND_GEAR_UNLOCK_VS_TP # Second gear converter un-lock schedule (TP_REL-Volts, Speed-MPH)
( 4.98047, 48 ) ( 2.92969, 48 ) ( 2.92969, 100 )
( 1.34766, 100 ) ( 1.34766, 26 ) ( 0.605469, 8.5 )
( 0, 8.5 ) ( 0, 8.5 ) ( 0, 8.5 )
( 0, 8.5 )


THIRD_GEAR_UNLOCK_VS_TP # Third gear converter un-lock schedule (TP_REL-Volts, Speed-MPH)
( 4.98047, 30 ) ( 0.976562, 30 ) ( 0.488281, 16 )
( 0, 16 ) ( 0, 16 ) ( 0, 16 )
( 0, 16 ) ( 0, 16 ) ( 0, 16 )
( 0, 16 )


FOURTH_GEAR_UNLOCK_VS_TP # Fourth gear converter un-lock schedule (TP_REL-Volts, Speed-MPH)
( 4.98047, 54 ) ( 0.859375, 54 ) ( 0.273438, 40 )
( 0.273438, 34 ) ( 0, 34 ) ( 0, 34 )
( 0, 34 ) ( 0, 34 ) ( 0, 34 )
( 0, 34 )

LOW_THROTTLE_LOCKUP 0.120117 # Converter lockup rate when not shifting, and not high TP (RPM/Sec)
HIGH_THROTTLE_LOCKUP 0.5 # Converter lockup rate when not shifting, and at high TP (RPM/Sec)
POST_SHIFT_LOCKUP_RATE 0.120117 # Converter lockup rate right after a shift(RPM/Sec)
TIME_BEFORE_CONVERTER_RELOCK 0 # Time to delay converter re-lock after tipping in from a closed throttle (Sec)
TIME_TO_KEEP_CONVERTER_LOCKED 7.99023 # Time to keep converter locked when going to closed throttle (Sec)
CONVERTER_SLIP_DURING_SHIFTS 24 # Amount of converter slip during shifts (RPM)
LOCKUP_PWM_HOLD_TIME 1 # Hold time for PWM when applying the clutch (Sec)
PRESSURE_ADDER_MANUAL_4_TO_2 20 # Pressure adder for a manual 4-2 downshift(TV)

FORWARD_TV_PRESSURE_UNDER_10_MPH # Forward TV pressure, as a function of TP, when under 10 mph (TP_REL-Volt, TV Pressure-PSI)
( 4.98047, 192 ) ( 1.46484, 192 ) ( 1.28906, 132 )
( 1.09375, 124 ) ( 0.546875, 64 ) ( 0.0976562, 40 )
( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 )


REVERSE_TV_PRESSURE_UNDER_10_MPH # Reverse TV pressure, as a function of TP, when under 10 mph (TP_REL-Volt, TV Pressure-PSI)
( 4.98047, 170 ) ( 2.69531, 170 ) ( 1.46484, 160 )
( 0.488281, 100 ) ( 0.253906, 60 ) ( 0.0976562, 40 )
( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 )

OSS_MIN_TICK_PERIOD 600 # Min time between OSS pulses for considered good clock tics (tics)
SPEEDO_CHANGE_MIN 0.929993 # Min correction for a change in speedo gear (%)
SPEEDO_CHANGE_MAX 1.07001 # Max correction for a change in speedo gear (%)
N_OVER_V_IN_THIRD 40 # N over V of the vehicle (engine speed/vehicle speed in 3rd gear)
NOVCNT 4 # N over V count
N_OVER_V_TIMES_4 160 # Multiply N_OVER_V_IN_THIRD by 4
MIN_TP_FOR_RETARD 100 # Minimum throttle position to retard spark during shifts(TP_relative)
MIN_TV_FOR_PTSHIFT_FIRST 15 # Minimum allowed TV pressure for a part throttle shift to 1st gear (TV Pressure)
MIN_TV_FOR_PTSHIFT_SECOND 0 # Minimum allowed TV pressure for a part throttle shift to 2nd gear (TV Pressure)
MIN_TV_FOR_PTSHIFT_THIRD 0 # Minimum allowed TV pressure for a part throttle shift to 3rd gear (TV Pressure)
MIN_TV_FOR_PTSHIFT_FOURTH 18 # Minimum allowed TV pressure for a part throttle shift to 4th gear (TV Pressure)
MIN_TV_FOR_FIRST 10 # Minimum allowed TV pressure when not shifting in 1st gear (TV Pressure)
MIN_TV_FOR_SECOND 20 # Minimum allowed TV pressure when not shifting in 2nd gear (TV Pressure)
MIN_TV_FOR_THIRD 20 # Minimum allowed TV pressure when not shifting in 3rd gear (TV Pressure)
MIN_TV_FOR_FOURTH 20 # Minimum allowed TV pressure when not shifting in 4th gear (TV Pressure)

SECOND_GEAR_SLIP_TABLE_X_SCALING # 2nd gear slip table x Normalizer. (Vehicle Speed-MPH, Cell Number)
( 32767.5, 6 ) ( 40, 6 ) ( 26, 5 )
( 18, 1 ) ( 15, 0 ) ( 0, 0 )


THIRD_GEAR_SLIP_TABLE_X_SCALING # 3rd gear slip table x Normalizer. (Vehicle Speed-MPH, Cell Number)
( 32767.5, 6 ) ( 50, 6 ) ( 25, 1 )
( 19, 0 ) ( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 )
( 0, 0 )

SLIP_TABLE_Y_SCALING # Slip table Y Normalizer, all tables. (TP_REL-Volts, Cell Number)
( 1023.98, 6 ) ( 300, 6 ) ( 150, 4 )
( 50, 2 ) ( 20, 1 ) ( 10, 0 )
( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 )


SECOND_GEAR_CONVERTER_SLIP_TABLE # 2nd gear converter continuous slip table (RPM)
52 52 52 20 20 20 20
52 52 52 20 16 16 16
52 52 52 20 16 16 16
16 16 16 16 16 16 16


THIRD_GEAR_CONVERTER_SLIP_TABLE # 3rd gear converter continuous slip table (RPM)
20 20 20 20 20 20 20
32 32 32 20 20 20 20
32 32 32 20 20 20 20
20 20 20 20 16 16 16
20 20 20 20 16 16 16
12 12 16 16 16 16 16
0 0 0 0 0 0 0


TV_PRESSURE_3_4_SHIFT # TV pressure for a 3-4 shift. (TV pressure-PSI)
6 6 0 -7 5 15 15 15
6 6 0 -7 5 15 15 15
0 0 0 -7 5 15 15 15
-12 -12 -12 -12 5 15 15 15
-12 -12 -12 -12 5 15 15 15
-12 -12 -12 -12 5 15 15 15
-12 -12 -12 -12 5 15 15 15
-12 -12 -12 -12 5 15 15 15


TV_PRESSURE_4_3_SHIFT # TV pressure for a 4-3 shift. (TV pressure-PSI)
0 0 0 25 40 90 90 90
0 0 0 25 25 90 90 90
5 5 0 25 25 90 90 90
5 5 -5 15 15 90 90 90
5 5 -5 0 5 5 0 0
0 0 -5 0 5 5 0 0
0 0 -5 0 5 5 0 0
0 0 -5 0 5 5 0 0


MAX_TORQUE_IN_GEAR # Maximum allowed input torque in each gear. (ft-lbs)
720 600 720 720 720


DYNAMIC_1_2_TV_PRESSURE_VS_TP # Added TV pressure for a 1-2 shift (TP_REL Volts, TV Pressure-PSI)
( 4.98047, 21 ) ( 1.46484, 15 ) ( 0.742188, 15 )
( 0.488281, 7 ) ( 0, 7 ) ( 0, 7 )
( 0, 7 ) ( 0, 7 ) ( 0, 7 )


DYNAMIC_2_3_TV_PRESSURE_VS_TP # Added TV pressure for a 2-3 shift (TP_REL Volts, TV Pressure-PSI)
( 4.98047, 243 ) ( 0.253906, 243 ) ( 0, 0 )
( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 )
( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 )


DYNAMIC_2_1_TV_PRESSURE_VS_TP # Added TV pressure for a 2-1 shift (TP_REL Volts, TV Pressure-PSI)
( 4.98047, 246 ) ( 0.976562, 246 ) ( 0, 0 )
( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 )
( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 )


DYNAMIC_3_2_TV_PRESSURE_VS_TP # Added TV pressure for a 3-2 shift (TP_REL Volts, TV Pressure-PSI)
( 4.98047, 25 ) ( 1.46484, 25 ) ( 1.46484, 0 )
( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 )
( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 ) ( 0, 0 )


SECOND_GEAR_LOCKUP_VS_TP # Second gear lockup (TP_REL-Volts, Speed-MPH)
( 4.98047, 50 ) ( 2.92969, 50 ) ( 2.92969, 105 )
( 1.34766, 105 ) ( 1.34766, 30 ) ( 0.976562, 30 )
( 0.605469, 10 ) ( 0, 10 ) ( 0, 10 )
( 0, 10 )


THIRD_GEAR_LOCKUP_VS_TP # Third gear lockup (TP_REL-Volts, Speed-MPH)
( 4.98047, 32 ) ( 0.976562, 32 ) ( 0.488281, 17.5 )
( 0, 17.5 ) ( 0, 17.5 ) ( 0, 17.5 )
( 0, 17.5 ) ( 0, 17.5 ) ( 0, 17.5 )
( 0, 17.5 )


FOURTH_GEAR_LOCKUP_VS_TP # Fourth gear lockup (TP_REL-Volts, Speed-MPH)
( 4.98047, 56 ) ( 0.898438, 56 ) ( 0.742188, 54 )
( 0.253906, 40 ) ( 0.253906, 35.5 ) ( 0, 35.5 )
( 0, 35.5 ) ( 0, 35.5 ) ( 0, 35.5 )
( 0, 35.5 )


UPSHIFT_SPEED_VS_TP_1_2 # 1-2 Upshift (TP_REL-Volts, Speed-MPH)
( 4.98047, 50 ) ( 2.92969, 50 ) ( 2.92969, 30 )
( 1.95312, 30 ) ( 1.62109, 25 ) ( 1.01562, 19 )
( 0.820312, 12 ) ( 0.488281, 10 ) ( 0, 10 )
( 0, 10 )


UPSHIFT_SPEED_VS_TP_2_3 # 2-3 Upshift (TP_REL-Volts, Speed-MPH)
( 4.98047, 80 ) ( 2.92969, 80 ) ( 2.92969, 68 )
( 2.03125, 68 ) ( 1.42578, 52 ) ( 1.23047, 45 )
( 1.01562, 35 ) ( 0.605469, 23 ) ( 0.410156, 20 )
( 0, 20 )


UPSHIFT_SPEED_VS_TP_3_4 # 3-4 Upshift (TP_REL-Volts, Speed-MPH)
( 4.98047, 116 ) ( 3.06641, 116 ) ( 2.34375, 107 )
( 1.83594, 93 ) ( 1.17188, 65 ) ( 0.253906, 40 )
( 0.253906, 35.5 ) ( 0, 35.5 ) ( 0, 35.5 )
( 0, 35.5 )


DOWNSHIFT_SPEED_VS_TP_2_1 # 2-1 Downshift (TP_REL-Volts, Speed-MPH)
( 4.98047, 28 ) ( 3.53516, 28 ) ( 3.53516, 25 )
( 2.55859, 25 ) ( 1.23047, 9 ) ( 0, 9 )
( 0, 9 ) ( 0, 9 ) ( 0, 9 )
( 0, 9 )


DOWNSHIFT_SPEED_VS_TP_3_2 # 3-2 Downshift (TP_REL-Volts, Speed-MPH)
( 4.98047, 70 ) ( 3.53516, 70 ) ( 3.53516, 50 )
( 2.44141, 50 ) ( 2.20703, 40 ) ( 1.23047, 20 )
( 1.13281, 18.5 ) ( 0, 18.5 ) ( 0, 18.5 )
( 0, 18.5 )


DOWNSHIFT_SPEED_VS_TP_4_3 # 4-3 Downshift (TP_REL-Volts, Speed-MPH)
( 4.98047, 100 ) ( 3.18359, 100 ) ( 3.18359, 92 )
( 2.38281, 80 ) ( 2.20703, 70 ) ( 1.71875, 50 )
( 1.52344, 40 ) ( 1.09375, 33.5 ) ( 0, 33.5 )
( 0, 33.5 )

And of course the rev limiter:D
 
Last edited:
Yes...........Yes.....OH YEAH.....OHHHHHHHHHH MY GOD............ahhhhhh.
Oops, sorry was that out loud too?
My apologies!
Don't tease me like that Steve, it's not nice.
Yeah, 3.55 are going in ($325 parts, $200 labor).
EEC Tuner, oh yeah, big time!
Wire's - eventually.
I still think that the EEC Tuner is the key, followed closely by gears.
Now to find out about shift kits...........
 
I hope you were wearing protection:D

As for the shift kit I have a transgo and I am very happ with it. I think I got it for $200, parts and labour. I have heard that the Lentec shift kit is better than the transgo but who knows.
 
All I can say Steve, I hope you were able to cut & paste all that, and not type it out !!

You guys are being pretty mean to Andrew, between Ryan teasing him about Jackie, and Steve teasing him about EEC Tuners .... :D


cheers
Ed N.
 
How in the hell do you get the front passenger side one? When looking at the engine the very front one on the left hand side. I changed it when I first got the car and now I can't get the sucker out
 
Tazer999 - Dwayne had previuosly pulled his motor and re-installed it. When it went back in it didn't go in the same way. His buddy, Joe, has the same (year, model) car and I can hardly SEE the plugs, let alone change them. I removed the intake tube and it was no problem.
It also helps when you're built like me - tall and skinny with really long arms.

Steve - protection, is that like mufflers? (check my signature). I picked up a B&M Shift Plus Electronic unit that you splice into the wires from the computer (2 wires). For $60 my line pressure is increased and I now have quicker, firmer (ohhh, my) shifts. The unit also has three settings (off, 1 and 2), I can select which one I want on the fly - works for me!

Ed - yeah, but that's what us 4.6 guys are for - LOL!!
 
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