Need price check help

[French G.]

I've driven some good fords but I swear they have a "Do dumb crap with the ignition" contest amongst the engineers. Eight coil packs, stupid plugs, stupider plug locations, etc. My 4.6L was terrible on plug wires, any dirt and contamination that could find it's way down into the recessed plug wells cuased all kinds of fun.

[Brad Johnson]

I've driven some good fords but I swear they have a "Do dumb crap with the ignition" contest amongst the engineers. Eight coil packs, stupid plugs, stupider plug locations, etc. My 4.6L was terrible on plug wires, any dirt and contamination that could find it's way down into the recessed plug wells cuased all kinds of fun.

It's not a Ford thing.  Most mfg have gone to coil-per-cylinder setups.  Plug locations?  Meh.  Pretty much dictated by combustion chamber and valvetrain architecture.  Designs that promote power/efficiency don't necessarily lend themselves to perfect plug serviceability placement.

Brad

[French G.]

You realize I'm coming at this from my rather inflexible 18436572 upbringing right?  If it's not a Chevy V-8 it's crap. Funny, I've only owned one GM as an adult, 454 with a carb and headers so that makes up for the lack of quantity. Owned 3 Fords, driven them all to ridiculous mileage.

[Brad Johnson]

I hear you.  I got an education on my first mod motored Ford when I had the Vic. Decent engines overall, just a few eccentricities.

Brad

[charby]

I hear you.  I got an education on my first mod motored Ford when I had the Vic. Decent engines overall, just a few eccentricities.

Brad

My first engine mod was a Mopar, but I'd rather work on a GM product.

Now, I have graduated to outboard motors and unless its a OMC, it is crap. I hate Mercury with a passion! Guess what I am working on now? My cousin's 4hp Mercury.

[roo_ster]

Been a while since I seriously used pickups.  Question:

When did GM/Chevy small block V-8 motors stop turning into oil-burners at 100K miles?  Seem to be a lot fewer "puff of smoke at startup" GM pickups, these days, when that was just to be expected with the old small block.  The good ones burned 1qt between oil changes or some such.  That was my beef with GM trucks. 

Similar question WRT Ford: When did they ditch the "Twin I-Beam Squirrely Under a Load" suspension up front on their 2WD 1/2ton & bigger pickups?

[charby]

Been a while since I seriously used pickups.  Question:

When did GM/Chevy small block V-8 motors stop turning into oil-burners at 100K miles?  Seem to be a lot fewer "puff of smoke at startup" GM pickups, these days, when that was just to be expected with the old small block.  The good ones burned 1qt between oil changes or some such.  That was my beef with GM trucks. 

Similar question WRT Ford: When did they ditch the "Twin I-Beam Squirrely Under a Load" suspension up front on their 2WD 1/2ton & bigger pickups?

I had a few 1970's Fords that liked to burn oil at the over 100k mark. Same for Mopar and Chevy, of the 60-70's era. I think engineering has gotten better since then. My last Ford, a 89 Mustang GT had 107k and didn't burn or leak any oil.

[Brad Johnson]

Similar question WRT Ford: When did they ditch the "Twin I-Beam Squirrely Under a Load" suspension up front on their 2WD 1/2ton & bigger pickups?

I think 2002 was the last year that suspension type was used.  Hey, technology progresses.  The twin I-beam suspension was an improvement over the old chuck wagon front axle.  The current unequal length control arm setup is an improvement over twin I-beam.  Etc, etc, etc. 

The twin I-beam suspension was actually pretty good for a truck... if the bushings were in good shape.  Let the bushings get even the least bit worn, though, and all kinds of nastiness would rain down on you - squirrely handling, appalling tire wear, yada, yada.  Bushings were cheap and so pathetically easy to change that it was kinda stupid not to swap in fresh ones on a regular basis.

Brad

[Tallpine]

When did GM/Chevy small block V-8 motors stop turning into oil-burners at 100K miles?

Back in the 1970s, GM said that 1 quart every 500 miles was not excessive for new factory engines.

I worked for a dealer for a while back then, and that was the rule for doing or not doing warranty work for oil consumption.

Some folks were not happy.

I think 2002 was the last year that suspension type was used.  Hey, technology progresses.  The twin I-beam suspension was an improvement over the old chuck wagon front axle.  The current unequal length control arm setup is an improvement over twin I-beam.  Etc, etc, etc. 

The twin I-beam suspension was actually pretty good for a truck... if the bushings were in good shape.  Let the bushings get even the least bit worn, though, and all kinds of nastiness would rain down on you - squirrely handling, appalling tire wear, yada, yada.  Bushings were cheap and so pathetically easy to change that it was kinda stupid not to swap in fresh ones on a regular basis.

Brad

The twin I also had a couple interesting effects if you drove "off road" a lot:

1) If you got a rock wedged between the beams, you would get an awful noise

2) If you hit a stump and bent the front beam, then you would get a really awful noise