Thanks man I really appreciate the help. Now I just gotta get to the dang plug and I should be good.

 

You do indeed have to remove the exaust manifold. I would suggest that you also replace the gasket before putting everything back together. In an effort to avoid this for as long as possible, I put in the best plugs money can buy. It really isn't as bad as it looks. If you need to, take photos as you remove everything so you can reverse engineer the project when you're done.

 

I know this is an old thread, but it helped me and I didn't want to start another thread when this one is good enough. Don't be afraid to change the plugs and wires yourself, takes awhile and you will bleed, but completely doable.

Replaced my plugs today. I'd suggest spraying them down with a penetration oil like PJ Blaster(sp) and letting them sit for awhile. Also use compressed air to blow all the crap away before you start taking the plugs out. Definitely use anti-seize on the threads and dielectic(sp) grease on the boots.
Wasn't fun doing, but once you start bleeding it all goes better for some reason. Didn't have to remove anything other then the air intake hose. It is possible to start all plugs by hand alone so you don't cross thread any.
1-4 on PS, self-explanitory.
1-2 on DS, straight forward also
3 on DS, left hand between engine and manifold. socket on swivel go through space on the manifold
4 on DS, left hand between engine and manifold (shoved all the way back) socket on swivel go just to the right of manifold, push hose out of way

1990 ranger 2.3l
*thanks everyone, I'm still here using the search function and getting stuff done!!

 

I did my 91 last month for the first time since I bought it 10 yrs ago, took me about an hour, I used a
12" extension, a 3/8 univ joint and extra long nose pliers (those helped alot!!) .I used Motorcraft sp-493 single platinum tip.

 

never had a problem with any of them swivels and extensions are your friend. I actually thought my 2.3 was easy

 

Yeah... I think its will burn off pretty quickly though, On my 3.0L I swapped the old plugs back in and seafoamed it ran it to town and back swapped the plugs back and changed the oil and the plugs looked the same as they had before I put them in...

Well my 3.0L is cake for changing the plugs! the only hard part is getting the right angle on the shock boots to pull them off. I got my plugs and wires changed in 30 minutes.

My old 2.8L on the other hand... PITA MSDLOHGSW:LKJGNSILYBFVSPALKDJBFVLSIRhbgvewrbvglsid bvlksdhbvliuABDl:ub!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! there was so many wires in the way and stuff... I don't know how it compares too your dual plug 2.3L but i hated it... Now with the duraspark its Cake too though...

 

my dad got em changed for me last xmas so that was nice cause i was probably gonna shoot something and consume everything at the liquor store if i attempted it myself

 

Changed mine when I first got the truck, It took some doing but with the help of different combos of two extensions and two swivels I got it done.

Apparently the previous owner tried to change them but wasnt sucessful. I had 4 champion, 2 autolites and 2 motorcraft plugs in there before I replaced them all

 

lmao thats hilarious

 

you haven't changed the plugs on a 1991 2.3 for 10 years??? umm... a 1991 rangers plugs should be changed every 30,000 miles unlike rangers built after 2000 which SAY they can go 100,000 miles between tune ups.

 

In 10 years I had only put arround 20k miles before that who knows (school,city driving),obviously old plugs(copper) still looked good except for the gap. Platinum is the way to go, no more knocking.

 

did mine yesterday. took an hour and a half to do all 8 plugs and wires...never needed a swivel though... its defenatly not as bad as it looks, but not having a/c also helped gave me more room.

 

does anyone know which bank of plugs is the ones actually used for ignition? if you know which is the ignition then theoretically you only need to change that side. the other side is on the exhaust stroke for better emissions and generates no power so you really dont need to change them as often if even ever at all.

 

You know, I never thought of that! Not sure which side is for emissions though..

I took off the intake manifold on my 98 2.5L. What a pain! The bolts that connect the EGR kept cross threading when I put it back together and I wound up having to use a stack of washers to hold it tight.

Anyways, glad it's over with! I hope to God I don't have to change them again!!

 

WikiAnswers - How do you change the spark plugs for a 1995 ford ranger 4 cylinder

http://www.webanswers.com/automobile...ger-2-3-6c2abb

 

I just bought a 93 ranger with 2.3 .If half the plugs are firing on the exhaust stroke for emissions...... Has anyone modded it so both plugs fired on the power stroke ? Might be as simple as changing the firing order . Nah! Can't be as simple as that.

 

Old thread, but I'll add my recent (still have scabs on my hands) experience:

Most of the right side are easy, as mentioned before, though #4 is pretty much blind. Use extensions. If you can get a straight shot with no swivel, do it without to minimize your chances of busting the insulator.

Left side is the bear, and I would assume these are the "money" plugs as far as which fire on the power stroke (though I have not consulted any technical literature to confirm this). Having the real Ford wires with the hand-holds helps tremendously. You will not get #4 wire back on unless your hands are the size of a baby's, so you will need help, which arrived for me in the form of 11" duck-bill pliers that were $8.99 at Northern Tool. Once I had those, the wire went on in under 10 minutes (spent 9 1/2 twisting the wire around to correctly orient it for the pliers). You have to go through the openings of the manifold.

I used two sockets: regular 5/8" deep and a "spark plug" socket. Use the spark plug socket for removal. For insertion, insert the plug only partially into the spark plug socket so that it doesn't grab too much (which will leave the socket behind on the plug when you try to remove!). Once you get the plug started, pull back to remove the special socket, switch to the regular deep socket and tighten.

Buy good plugs. I used Autolite double-platinum, which should last 100,000 miles. Spend the extra $15 on the set and change them half as much!

The gaps on my old, possibly original Motorcraft "plain" plugs were at least 0.070" Correct setting is 0.044". The truck runs a lot better now and I have no problem keeping it at 75 - 80 mph on the highway!

 

Yeah i went to change my plugs on my 95 the other day and about shi*t when i saw their placement but oh well stiil gotta love Ford even when their not thinking.

 

I have to change the plugs on my 2.5L tomarow...lets just say that im REALLY not looking forward to it.

 

Good feedback, does Motorcraft also sell double platinums and what are people's opinions of what brand to go with, Motorcraft, Autolite, or others?

 

I did on my 93 mustang 2.3l. lol I think it is the coil that is closer to the firewall that is the exhaust.... it would be logical considering the placement of the plugs is on the exhaust side. I made a diagram for the 2.3l. not sure if the firing order it the same I will look into that and let you know.

and as far as results, I couldn't tell you. I only let it idle then I had to go some where and I put them back in fear that something might happen and I might get stuck while I needed to get things done.


p.s. sorry not trying to hijack

 

As far as double-platinum Motorcraft plugs - yes they exist. Go deeper than the google search that shows links from 2003.

All the mega-retailers have them.

It's not a horrible job IF you have the wires with the hand-holds AND a really long duck-nose pliers. Once I got the pliers, the job was a little over an hour and I'm not the fastest dude on the block.

Steve

 

Sorry for asking a question, and yes I went deeper than google results that were newer than 2003, but ok.

Advance Auto Parts - didn't see any motorcraft double platinum

Autozone - After selecting my truck, said it only carries the finewire single platinum (just like my "unreliable" google results)


Don't know why people gotta be smart @$$e$ sometimes.

 

Lighten up, Francis. It wasn't my intent - I was merely suggesting that Google had lots of old links.

Sheesh.

 

Condescending statements are a pet peeve of mine, as I run into way too many internet and real-world know-it-alls who blindly say things without thinking/researching first (Not saying that you're necessarily one of them but thats how I reacted). I'm sure you can see it from my point of view.

Could you point me to some of these double platinum motorcrafts, if they're in fact worth it over the finewire platinums?