[DeTomaso] Car related laugh for the day, LPC (Little Pantera Content)

Peter Kovacs peter-kovacs at sbcglobal.net
Mon Jun 4 01:12:50 EDT 2007


Just be sure to "put that plug back in" before you put that boat in the lake!

 
Peter Kovacs
Property Equity & Mortgage Mgmt
209 345-6708 
209 523-4919 fx



----- Original Message ----
From: Mike Thomas <mbefthomas at comcast.net>
To: Asa Jay Laughton <asajay at asajay.com>; detomaso at realbig.com
Sent: Sunday, June 3, 2007 9:28:03 PM
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Car related laugh for the day, LPC (Little Pantera Content)


The last time I did that forget-to-put-the-plug-back-in thing was when my
girlfriend-now-wife was there helping-distracting me.  What was your excuse
. . . ? 

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] On
Behalf Of Asa Jay Laughton
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 8:30 PM
To: detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: [DeTomaso] Car related laugh for the day,LPC (Little Pantera
Content)

So I go to change oil in my daily driver, a Ford ZX2.  Hmm, I seem to be out
of synthetic, no bother, I'll just use this Napa brand 10-40 I've had
sitting on the shelf for several years, it should do until I pick up a new
case of synthetic.  Besides, I need to change the oil again soon anyway, as
a "clean-out."

So I get the filter changed, and decide to plunk that first quart of oil in.
While I'm at it, I'll start taking out the bolts that hold the spark plug
cover on.  What's this?  An oil pan plug.  !?!?!  Oops.  
Looking under the car, sure enough, brand new oil draining into the oil pan.
Pretty too the sun is so bright I can see right this stuff, not like the
stuff that came out earlier.  Put the plug in stupid.

Onto quart number two (it's a good thing I got five quarts out of the shed)

Off with the spark plug cover, off with the plug wires/boots, and out come
the plugs.

Holy CRAP!

Now, at this point, let me go back and tell you the reason I wanted to pull
the plugs.  In my humble opinion, the engine has been running kind of puny
lately.  Seems like it's missing on a cylinder every now and again, but it
still runs decent and drive fine on my commute everyday.  
I figured I'd pull them to check them out, then if I need some, pick some
up.

It's after 1900 (7 pm RPT), all auto stores are closed.  I hadn't really
thought I'd need to get them THIS bad.

The gaps on the plugs range from .075 to somewhere over .100 and there are
only four of them.  The center electrode is worn down to a razor thin wire.
The ground electrodes are tapered, one has a spike of something on it
pointing to the center electrode and others have little divits you could
hold a small golf ball in.  Wait. . . WTF. . .These are Motorcraft
PLATINUMS!  Who the hell put THESE in???

It certainly wasn't me.  I've not changed plugs on this car since I've owned
it.

The memories go back to 1987 when I tried a set of Bosch Platinums in the
Mach I, only to pitch them after about three weeks.  Seems I know remember
this kind of bad running scenario from way back.

Did I mention the part stores were closed?  So I stare at the Pantera and
think, hmmm, maybe I should just drive it the next few days.  YES! 
you all say.  YES, I say, but darned if I can't get it out unless I move the
stinkin' ZX2 now.  I'm pinned.

So, I get out my trusty points file (you know, from waaaaaay back in the
capacitive discharge days of motoring) and file both the ground electrode
and the center electrode.  Then I have to gap the things.  The one with the
most worn center electrode ends up having the ground electrode bent over
like a hook in order to get it close enough to gap at .065.  Now mind you,
I'm guessing here at .065, but I figure it's gotta be close.

Put them all back in, cross my fingers and it fires right up.  Seems to be
running a lot better too.  So now,  . . .
Do I swap the cars and drive the Pantera?  Oh noooo, not me, I'm going to
temp FATE, and drive the ZX2 to work tomorrow, pick up parts on the way home
(plugs and oil) and see just how well backyard shadetree mechanicin' really
works.  :)

I'll be getting the Pantera out Wednesday to stretch it's legs.  Wish me
luck.

Asa Jay


Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired

& Shelley Marie
Spokane, WA

1973 Pantera L 5533
[ASASCAT]
    
******************************     
http://www.asajay.com
http://www.351c.info
  


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