Dont i wish!!- it started with the knees, when the orthopedic dr. seen how much arther. was in my knees, he sent me to a ( i cant remember the name- arther specialist)- hmmm- maybe it did effect my thinking!
Any rate, the specialist told me i had as much arther in me as a 70 yr old!- its worse in my back,thats why im real sympathetic to folks with back problems- im offset about 1" from waist to chest, and twisted about 3/4" from center of the pelvis to my navel.
I get epidural shots about every 6 mos. and do stretches daily- keeps me from surgery!

 

All 04 F150 5.4's are 3V except for lightning and heritage. On the 3V's From 04 to mid 07, the spark plug problem during THOSE model years was Fords way of telling the blow out whiners to buzz off as you couldn't remove the plugs from those models without breaking them off inside the thread chamber. This design forced more owners to take them in for service. That didn't hurt sales and Ford made their point since the blowout problem for gen 10's, (so proved in the class action suit, Ford not liable) was do to the lack of or poor maintenance. Justice served.

Half way through 07 Ford redesigned the 3V plug chamber threads once again making plug maintenance much more user friendly. These engines were marked with brown coil boots for easy identification.

No 3V ever had a blow problem....quite the opposite. The 2V heads were redesigned in 02 and went into SOME models with casting dates on or after Nov 02 according to Ford. This proved far and in-between for the average F150 as an 03 engine w/8 thread plug was sought out on one site by members of that site. They could not find one F150 (03 model) 2valve with improved plug chambers. That's where it ended and I haven't any further information.

Some of this post is opinion. Conclusions I've drawn following. There's also fact, -a good portion of that to be had fellas.

 

Ok thinkers- gonna head for time clock here in a bit- you fellers have a great evening- the oldest grandson is at the house, its going to be a good evening!- peace to all, g'nite!

 

Thanks JB!, have a great evening!

 

From what I've found, that is 100% correct. Of course you knew that and I didn't. They were only available in the 03 F series, after the end of 6/03 model build month, I believe it said7. The 04's, with 2v, had the improved head thread design. It also shows the 3/03 Expy's first with the new head. They made enough in time for vans and one plus year of the Expy and Navigator. The vans show it being used thru the 09 model year. Those heads should be on the market to some extent by now.

As far as the new heads in 03, most were Expy and Navigator according to what I finally dug out of my old tech and service manual. I'm glad I took the old copy and saved it. It was supposed to be destroyed, but you know how some of us hold on the stuff that sentimental value. lol

Brew, I was hoping you would pop onto the Swap thread and give me some of your swap insight last night. I finally found most of what I wanted when I dug up my old books but will gladly take any foresight and knowledge. I also found that this engine long block is used in the 04 E150, 250, and SD 250, and partial 03 F150/250 also. I'm not 100% on the 350 series, as I didn't check it. Anyways JB, if you have any tips to the swap, please post them or the link you used before. I saw the one you helped at the other site last night, Mr. Contributor. lol. I know about the flywheel, taking the harness for S&G, I've got the exhaust also, back to the extension pipe/muffler. I figured I might as well take it all.

 

I just got my seats cleaned and am getting ready to install my heaters. The ones I have are both back and butt heated. I like that for my sorry back.

Here are a couple pics

 

Those you going to look great in red.

 

Thanks. I think so also. Black grey and red. Not a bad combo.

 

No problem bear, Ford getting back at the consumer was my opinion only. Not sure that it was but man did it look that way lol.

Not sure this is of interest but, -I recall my brother calling me from a gas station. A family in a Expedition pulled in with a blown plug unaware of the problem. The sound of the engine running reminded me of a large coffee pot percolating on steroids w/surround sound. Just random detailed weirdness that plagues my mind about things at times I expect.
Anyway, I directed little brother to look for a plug not quite in place and he found it. That is what I didn't like to see and yes Ford should of took somewhat of a hit for that. Kick myself sort of for not getting the miles from the owner of that Expy.
There was an attempt for proof positive. A debatable non- fact that if proven true the outcome would have surely been different. It was that the plugs have blown at less than 50,000 miles under factory original torque. It was never proven, it was to difficult to prove the plugs weren't tampered with beforehand and considered miscellaneous hear say.. Ford had one small recall late in 99 for these 150's. Some plugs were over tightened at the factory and Ford wanted them back...hard to believe, but true. Good luck finding that recall today...disappeared. Personally, I never liked the tapered seat theory because of dissimilar hardness differences between plug housing and the softer aluminum head. That was only due to lack of information, heat treating procedures and turn-out. Personally felt that the compression washer design was a solid and more forgiving (possibly)concept to incorporate. Also have to say that the tapered seat theory COULD prove beneficial. But, gen 10 heads were new, without reason to push beyond the norm through quality control. Many unanswered questions that Ford Motor wasn't ordered to evaluate thoroughly.

Anyway, I'm sure Ford weighed what they should do carefully after problems surfaced. They found a possible way out of the blame game and rolled the dice....their dice lol.

 

my 03 had an 8 threaded left head and a 4 threaded right head. Strange, as I bought the truck new with 7 miles on it in 2003