 
     |
| Fiero kept, another Fiero acquired... (Page 11/13) |
|
maryjane
|
APR 28, 09:54 AM
|
|
Nothing but that might change..
(edit at 3:45pm Friday. Under tornado warning, currently strong winds here, torrential rain and quarter size hail. We may do nothing today or this weekend)[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 04-28-2023).]
|
|
|
|
maryjane
|
APR 29, 07:57 AM
|
|
|
|
|
82-T/A [At Work]
|
APR 30, 08:22 PM
|
|
|
|
|
82-T/A [At Work]
|
MAY 14, 06:55 PM
|
|
|
|
|
maryjane
|
MAY 14, 11:18 PM
|
|
| quote | Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
MJ, did you ever end up buying a Fiero or another little project? |
|
None of the above. The pictures are from when Jane and I went to AAFO's Roundup in Bertam Tx, about 40 miles south of here April 29-30.. I DID attempt to get in Blake's Fiero while there but that was an embarrassing failure, as I could not get swiveled around enough to get my legs under the steering wheel and I had to have help getting back out and back on my feet. I hated everyone had to see me like that, but that's my life now.
(I am currently looking into a 1997 F-150 single cab with 4.6 V8 and 6 spd manual. Way older than I really want but it might make a good project for me.)[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 05-14-2023).]
|
|
|
cliffw
|
MAY 15, 07:56 AM
|
|
| quote | Originally posted by maryjane:
(I am currently looking into a 1997 F-150 single cab with 4.6 V8 and 6 spd manual. Way older than I really want but it might make a good project for me.)
|
|
I had a 98 F-150, one and a half cab, with the 4.6 V8. Not only was I unimpressed, I am a critic. Power was most noticeable. My 2005 4.0 Toyota had more balls.
Maintenance next. I have to keep it short but google "ford 4.6 spark plug change problems".
|
|
|
|
82-T/A [At Work]
|
MAY 15, 08:39 AM
|
|
| quote | Originally posted by maryjane:
I had to have help getting back out and back on my feet. I hated everyone had to see me like that, but that's my life now.
(I am currently looking into a 1997 F-150 single cab with 4.6 V8 and 6 spd manual. Way older than I really want but it might make a good project for me.)
|
|
Haha, don't feel bad MJ... that's just what happens. We will all get there. I'm no longer 18 anymore either. At 45 I can still get in and out of a Fiero, but I know that 20 years from now, it will be even more difficult to get in and out of one.
What kind of 6-Speed is that? That's pretty cool... I didn't know they had a 6-Speed?
| quote | Originally posted by cliffw:
I had a 98 F-150, one and a half cab, with the 4.6 V8. Not only was I unimpressed, I am a critic. Power was most noticeable. My 2005 4.0 Toyota had more balls.
Maintenance next. I have to keep it short but google "ford 4.6 spark plug change problems". |
|
It's kind of unfair to compare a more modern premier performance-based VVT DOHC motor with the standard truck V8 from the mid to late 90s. The 4.6 SOHC V8 was a super-reliable engine that was standard on several Ford vehicles. It was built primarily for reliability and torque. It was in everything from the F-150, to the Mustang, to the Crown Victoria. It's what all the police cars had, and they routinely rack up over 300k+ miles on the odometer after policy duty, and as a taxi cab. This doesn't even consider the "hours" that the engine spent idling... just the miles that were driven, almost all of which were hard. There's no way a Toyota 4.0 VVT V6 would be able to handle that kind of daily abuse.
In 2001, Ford improved the standard SOHC V8 with what they called the PI intake and heads, which stood for performance improver. These engines were the same displacement, slightly hotter cam, and really woke up the engine... 239hp but grew to 250hp by 2004 w/ 300 ft-lbs of torque. And just to emphasize, this wasn't the "performance" engine. This was just the standard Crown Victoria engine... which was all about reliability, not performance. The Mustang got the same version of the engine, but was 260hp in the Mustang GT.
There was a 3-valve version of the engine, which was in the Ford F-series trucks that put out over 300hp, and 320 ft-pounds. This was even in the Ford Explorer (one like mine).
If we're talking "PERFORMANCE" versions of the engine, they also sold a DOHC version of the motor which was 4 valves per cyl, which was 320hp and 300 ft-lbs with a much flatter torque curve. This was in the Mercury Marauder, Mustang GT, Lincoln Aviator, and a few other vehicles.
Just to emphasize... the 4.6 SOHC V8 was one of the base motors you could get in the F-150, if you didn't get the straight-6 (which I'm not sure if they even sold it anymore at that point). Just kind of unfair to compare I think, haha...
I wouldn't worry about the spark plug problem. That was a problem for people who changed the spark plugs. The platinum plugs (stock) were rated for 150k miles, and the only reason this became an issue is because a LOT of people were hot rodding this engine, and what is the one thing people always do... try to replace their spark plugs. The plugs would get cross-threaded (since it was an aluminum head) and then leak, burn the plug seat, and blow out requiring a helicoil. It only really happened after people would change the plugs... or even shops, and they didn't torque them down properly.
I've changed the plugs on my 2002 Crown Victoria, and when I DO actually drive it, I beat the piss out of it. Mine puts out about ~250-255hp (it's been tuned, and has some of the upgrades from the newer Crown Victorias). I've never had an issue with it, ever...
|
|
|
|
maryjane
|
MAY 15, 10:31 AM
|
|
| quote | | What kind of 6-Speed is that? That's pretty cool... I didn't know they had a 6-Speed? |
|
Sorry, it's a typo. 5 spd.
Yes, they dropped the inline 300 cu in in 97. I worked on so many different vehicles as a mechanic over the years, and even more with diesels in boats and on oilfield applications with hard to reach components that not much bothers me. I've had to manufacture some 'special tools' at times but never had to cut up any sheet metal or do any of the other crazy crap I've read about on line.
Cliff, I wouldn't ever own any Jap sh**. I'm not worried about power any more than it takes to haul me around.[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 05-15-2023).]
|
|
|
|
82-T/A [At Work]
|
MAY 15, 10:50 AM
|
|
| quote | Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
There was a 3-valve version of the engine, which was in the Ford F-series trucks that put out over 300hp, and 320 ft-pounds. This was even in the Ford Explorer (one like mine).
|
|
I'm seriously considering buying this so I can strip it...
https://www.autotrader.com/...c3f642204c78774d7c5a
It's the 3v SOHC 4.6 V8. It has a ton of power, and it was only put into the Explorer because they were trying to market that platform for police use. There were many police and Federal agencies that purchased the 2007-2009 Ford Explorer (RWD) for police duty... but since they had done the work, they also sold the engine in the Eddie Bauer edition. Which is what this is. I don't really care for all the nonsense fake wood and whatnot, but it's a pretty clean car, and I could take the entire drivetrain and drop it in my car (after rebuilding the engine).
... and then put my old engine and transmission into the other car and sell it.[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 05-15-2023).]
|
|
|
cliffw
|
MAY 16, 03:41 PM
|
|
| quote | Originally posted by maryjane:
Cliff, I wouldn't ever own any Jap sh**. I'm not worried about power any more than it takes to haul me around.
|
|
I know. We have discussed our different views before. I meant to mention that.
|
|
|
|
