Magnecor Wires?

[Flashlightboy]

I'm running their 8.5mm wires on my Exploder without complaints but I need to change plugs and I fear that I'll go ape sh!t, resort to basic human nature and just rip off the wires.

I can get another set of 8.5mm wires or I can try their new 8mm wire (OEM+) replacement. The cost difference is about $20 and that really isn't a concern.

I like the build quality of the 8.5mm wires and I'm wondering if anyone here knows anything about the 8mm wires.

This is an unmodified Exploder that is using ARX and otherwise uses GC. See how I tied that in?

 

[mechtech]

What is an Exploder??

 

[Flashlightboy]

My '97 Explorer that decided to perform some unrequested reconfiguration of the engine compartment i.e., crank snapped at the harmonic balancer while backing out of the driveway. Apparently the NHTSA reports that this isn't unheard of.

BTW - I splurged and bought the 8.5mm wires yesterday.

 

[Flashlightboy]

4.0L SOHC with 103k on the odometer.

Ford said they'd never heard of it happening before. The NHTSA reports it does happen under a variety of conditions.

I read somewhere on the web that a Ford tech who works at the assembly plant said that it's called "stacking of the tolerances." Apparently the harmonic balancer/keyway assembly takes the brunt and it can snap.

 

[crashz]

Crank snapped?????

Wow - thats unreal. What engine?

 

[TheLoneRanger]

FLBoy, I read on a Ford tech board that the snapped cranks were on engines that had previously serviced harmonic balancers. It seems that if the balancer is not re-installed correctly, it stresses the crank.

Many of the SOHC engines have had the cam chain tensioners replaced, during which the balancer is removed.

Just curious (since I own a 4.0 myself), had yours had the balancer removed previous to the crank breakage?

 

[Flashlightboy]

I'm not aware of the balancer ever having been taken off the engine. I had all the recalls performed (tensioner too) but that was the extent of the engine work.

The tensioner recall had been repaired 10 months earlier.

Could you point me to the Ford tech link you mentioned? It seems that you'd hear a lot about cranks snapping if they were related to the tensioner recall.

 

[Whimsey]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Flashlightboy:
Whimsey,

'97 was the first year for the SOHC and you could get either it or the OHV.

---

You learn something new everyday or once you reach 50 you forget something everyday

. Thanks

Whimsey

 

[TheLoneRanger]

FlashLight, here's the thread.
broken crankshafts

 

[Whimsey]

Your 1997 4.0L Exploder engine is the SOHC model? I thought they didn't come out with the 4.0L SOHC motor until 2000 "ish"

. My wife had a 1996 Sport Exploder and she had the 4.0L OHV push rod motor. She now has a 2002 4 door Exploder with the 4.0L SOHC motor and 5 speed auto tranny. It's a lot more peppy

. She was getting radio interference from a sparkplug wire breaking down in the 2002 so I just replaced them with Motorcraft wires. The dealer wanted about $100 just for the wires

. Rock Auto had the same Motorcraft wires for around $60

.

Whimsey

[ August 22, 2004, 12:22 PM: Message edited by: Whimsey ]

 

[Flashlightboy]

Whimsey,

'97 was the first year for the SOHC and you could get either it or the OHV.