I am staring at the two wires closest to us in the picture touching as they overlap each other further down.
New Impala engines
- Thread starter John K
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I'd expect that could be fixed by adjusting the wires in the retainer, so there's not excess slack...or maybe there's an additional retainer that for whatever reason didn't get installed on this engine.
Geeze.. it's just a model engine.. it isn't going to look exactly the same installed. Not defending the General but really.. it's just a picture.
In the "What's New" link for this 3.9L engine, GM says this:
"Variable intake manifold The variable intake manifold is an engine feature usually found only on high-cost, premium European performance cars, but the new manifold design is standard with the 3.9L V-6. The active air intake optimizes incoming airflow through a valve in the intake manifold. The valve creates longer or shorter intake tracts that correspond to desired engine-performance parameters. At low engine speeds, the valve creates a longer path for intake air, enhancing combustion efficiency and torque output. At higher engine speeds, the valve opens, creating a shorter air path for maximum power production."
Usually found on "high-cost, premium European performance cars"?? I suppose it depends on your definition of "usually".
Google IMRC (intake manifold runner control) and note that Ford has been using this on 4.6L V8s and the Duratec 2.5L and 3.0L engines since the early-mid 90s. Even my mom's old 1997 Ford Escort with it's 2.0L SOHC engine has "Split Port Induction" which is a different name for the same idea. (That "split port induction" along with the additional .1L of displacement boosted it's horsepower from 88HP to 110HP, with the old 1.9L SOHC getting 88HP).
I even ran across an article (which I wish I could find again) in some trade journal which explained that intake manifold runner control and it's variants can be used as an inexpensive way to make an older engine design produce more horsepower (which is clearly what Ford was doing with it in the 1997 Escort).
Speaking of that, I think it'd be really neat if there were an aftermarket intake manifold for the Ford 302 V8 that incorporated intake manifold runner control. It would need an electronic control to actuate it based on engine speed, but I think there are aftermarket "VTEC" controllers for the Honda crowd which could work, although it wouldn't be hard to design one.
I say this because (of the ones I've looked at) the aftermarket intake manifolds available for the 302 that give you higher RPM horsepower drop your low RPM torque. IMRC could give the best of both worlds.
"Variable intake manifold The variable intake manifold is an engine feature usually found only on high-cost, premium European performance cars, but the new manifold design is standard with the 3.9L V-6. The active air intake optimizes incoming airflow through a valve in the intake manifold. The valve creates longer or shorter intake tracts that correspond to desired engine-performance parameters. At low engine speeds, the valve creates a longer path for intake air, enhancing combustion efficiency and torque output. At higher engine speeds, the valve opens, creating a shorter air path for maximum power production."
Usually found on "high-cost, premium European performance cars"?? I suppose it depends on your definition of "usually".
Google IMRC (intake manifold runner control) and note that Ford has been using this on 4.6L V8s and the Duratec 2.5L and 3.0L engines since the early-mid 90s. Even my mom's old 1997 Ford Escort with it's 2.0L SOHC engine has "Split Port Induction" which is a different name for the same idea. (That "split port induction" along with the additional .1L of displacement boosted it's horsepower from 88HP to 110HP, with the old 1.9L SOHC getting 88HP).
I even ran across an article (which I wish I could find again) in some trade journal which explained that intake manifold runner control and it's variants can be used as an inexpensive way to make an older engine design produce more horsepower (which is clearly what Ford was doing with it in the 1997 Escort).
Speaking of that, I think it'd be really neat if there were an aftermarket intake manifold for the Ford 302 V8 that incorporated intake manifold runner control. It would need an electronic control to actuate it based on engine speed, but I think there are aftermarket "VTEC" controllers for the Honda crowd which could work, although it wouldn't be hard to design one.
I say this because (of the ones I've looked at) the aftermarket intake manifolds available for the 302 that give you higher RPM horsepower drop your low RPM torque. IMRC could give the best of both worlds.
On my Contour, I have an oil leak which I believe was caused by less-than-rigorous oil change maintenance. I've read bits and pieces of things on this forum that lead me to believe that poor oil change maintenance will cause leaks. I auto-rx'd it and the leak went away but it's come back in the last 3 oil changes. I'm going to try high-mileage oil and see if that helps.quote:
Originally posted by T-Keith:
That's funny, 90% of my car problems have been from previous owner neglect.
It also had a bad battery (shorted cell) in it that took out the alternator. The previous owner was apparently continually jumpstarting it instead of getting a new battery.
The Mustang was very well maintained by the previous-previous owner, based on the maintenance records I have. The previous owner (who is the son-in-law of the previous-previous owner) only had it about a year, and then I got it.
This is a promotional photo from GM and their best attempt to show off their new baby in the best light possible. When they can't even get this right, why would anyone think the real product will be any better? This is their version of the perfect, mouth-watering hamburger you see in the ads. To me, it's eye-watering.
Firstly, I am not a GM fan boy, but.....
It's not reasonable to judge their product by what their marketing pimps put out.
I guess they forgot the disclaimer, or more likely, figured it wouldn't be needed:
"Production engine may vary slightly from engine depicted in promotional photo".
Attn GM mole: Yes, there are some people who do need disclaimers like this. They're generally the ones who sue you over injuries encountered while misusing your products.
"Production engine may vary slightly from engine depicted in promotional photo".
Attn GM mole: Yes, there are some people who do need disclaimers like this. They're generally the ones who sue you over injuries encountered while misusing your products.
Just exercising some poetic license along the vein of evocative emotional marketing materials...
I am certainly not a GM fan but the entire argument about sparkplug wires in this photo are ridiculous, petty and overtly critical without merit. Give the new product a chance. I know of no manufacturer who bats 1000. There are products from each manufacturer that I would avoid. And products that I covet.
Yea, their arangement won't much matter when the crankcase floods with coolent or the engine sounds like a diesel tractor on cold mornings.
But wait, all of those sludging problems are caused by poor oil change maintenance...
...nevermind that the same exact oil change maintenance doesn't cause OTHER engines to sludge.
...nevermind that the same exact oil change maintenance doesn't cause OTHER engines to sludge.
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