I did it !!!!

[toughguy]

first of all I want to thank the following guys, koda2000,Joe Dirt and many of the guys who put in their ideas I have learned a lot from this site and saved hundred of dollars doing it myself., today I did the following: I replaced the radiator in my 2000 ford EB, thank you Joe dirt I went here http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=332584 and followed your directions.....and the only problem I had was separation it from the condenser. otherwise it was ok, and i installed it in a snap. I then changed the 15 year spark plug wires, NEVER IN MY LIFE WILL I EVER DO THAT AGAIN.....holy crap.... that was the worst 3 hours of my life I will never get back. but the truck now runs great and smooth !!!!! thank you all. this forum is great place to learn how to maintain you Ford EB's, I have 2 of them a 1999 and a 2000, both V8's

 

[ccm2001]

Sweet. I love these forums aswelll saved hundreds. Never been to a mechanic except for tirres

 

[MAS Tequila]

Cool, it's always good to hear success stories.

MT

 

[koda2000]

first of all I want to thank the following guys, koda2000,Joe Dirt and many of the guys who put in their ideas I have learned a lot from this site and saved hundred of dollars doing it myself., today I did the following: I replaced the radiator in my 2000 ford EB, thank you Joe dirt I went here http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=332584 and followed your directions.....and the only problem I had was separation it from the condenser. otherwise it was ok, and i installed it in a snap. I then changed the 15 year spark plug wires, NEVER IN MY LIFE WILL I EVER DO THAT AGAIN.....holy crap.... that was the worst 3 hours of my life I will never get back. but the truck now runs great and smooth !!!!! thank you all. this forum is great place to learn how to maintain you Ford EB's, I have 2 of them a 1999 and a 2000, both V8's

Your welcome. When I did my first one I used Joe Dirt's sticky too. I agree, it would be a real easy job except for the stupid condenser bracket. Good choice on engines. The V8's are so far superior to the SOHC V6 for reliability it's not even funny. That's why there are 4 of them in my fleet. The 2 SOHC's I currently have worry me with every little noise they make.

 

[beach]

Actually you should be happy doing it that quick without much trouble. I wanted to murder someone doing my 5.0 radiator. Ford did some seriously dumb things with these trucks lol. Doing new wires right now and the #4 plug I don't see anyway to put the new wires the way Ford routed it without removing the whole upper assembly of the engine b/c it's squeezed with clips between it and the block wtf lol. I'm going to reroute the wires another route. Changing the belt on this trucks is a nightmare too with the tensioner at the bottom and almost no room, took two of us that 1st time and was a *****, did it myself another time when I put the new alternator in and took forever and damn near busted my hand jamming the ratchet in at the angle needed. The fan clutch is a ***** even with the correct tools. The clutch assembly on the compressor was a nightmare to get off and out new one on, should have just bought a new compressor with it already installed but my compressor runs perfect, forget how many hours I spent fighting with the compressor clutch, had a thread on it.

Everything on these trucks seems way way harder to do or fix then others. I've worked in our boat motors, I done work on the Viper I had even opening up the engine no problem, helped friends on stuff like long tube headers on a Raptor which is extremely tough etc.

But this 5.0 takes the cake, anytime I've had to do something it makes me want to kill someone lol. Dropping the tank and putting new fuel pump in was pretty easy though.

Edit - just noticed you said you did the wires. How did you do the #4? I'm going to reroute mine. I cannot get the clips out holding the 4th, im thinking of just cutting it and ripping it out.

Check your coil packs. I was surprised at how much rust was in the mounting plate and bottom of the packs, I sanded and cleaned them off. And runs so smooth now even with the old plugs. Another issue, been letting them soak in PB as can't get them out and their only 5 years old.

 

[toughguy]

Actually you should be happy doing it that quick without much trouble. I wanted to murder someone doing my 5.0 radiator. Ford did some seriously dumb things with these trucks lol. Doing new wires right now and the #4 plug I don't see anyway to put the new wires the way Ford routed it without removing the whole upper assembly of the engine b/c it's squeezed with clips between it and the block wtf lol. I'm going to reroute the wires another route. Changing the belt on this trucks is a nightmare too with the tensioner at the bottom and almost no room, took two of us that 1st time and was a *****, did it myself another time when I put the new alternator in and took forever and damn near busted my hand jamming the ratchet in at the angle needed. The fan clutch is a ***** even with the correct tools. The clutch assembly on the compressor was a nightmare to get off and out new one on, should have just bought a new compressor with it already installed but my compressor runs perfect, forget how many hours I spent fighting with the compressor clutch, had a thread on it.

Everything on these trucks seems way way harder to do or fix then others. I've worked in our boat motors, I done work on the Viper I had even opening up the engine no problem, helped friends on stuff like long tube headers on a Raptor which is extremely tough etc.

But this 5.0 takes the cake, anytime I've had to do something it makes me want to kill someone lol. Dropping the tank and putting new fuel pump in was pretty easy though.

Edit - just noticed you said you did the wires. How did you do the #4? I'm going to reroute mine. I cannot get the clips out holding the 4th, im thinking of just cutting it and ripping it out.

Check your coil packs. I was surprised at how much rust was in the mounting plate and bottom of the packs, I sanded and cleaned them off. And runs so smooth now even with the old plugs. Another issue, been letting them soak in PB as can't get them out and their only 5 years old.

the number 4 was the worst, I traced it from the coil pack to the plug and since I am **** about my trucks, I removed each clip(total of 5 clips for ONE wire) holding the wire and opened it then I ran the wire to each clip (which was almost impossible, but do able) the passenger side was worst, the driver side was a little better (not easier) but better. I knew the wires were bad but not that bad, truck runs like new. found out the wires were original and 15 years old.

 

[1997XLTRollover]

Yeah that radiator is the most retarded design. I've done it twice and it has not been fun, even after it was recently out. Spark plugs yeah, be happy you didn't break one off in the cylinder. The fact that you got them out is a good thing even if it took 3 hours.

 

[toughguy]

Yeah that radiator is the most retarded design. I've done it twice and it has not been fun, even after it was recently out. Spark plugs yeah, be happy you didn't break one off in the cylinder. The fact that you got them out is a good thing even if it took 3 hours.

True Dat !!!