Read Your Spark Plugs

[@mercurymangarage6186]

Ide just leave the motor as is. From what you’re saying it runs fine. Although a total rebuild would make for some great videos. Lol. I’m assuming many of us have FE’s that need work. Food for thought. Len from Michigan.

[@AutoRestoMod]

Great point!

[@fordman4287]

Do a basic refresh on it and it'll still be on the road after you've left the earth. FEs aren't difficult if you know what you're doing. I have never broke bolts on an FE other than exhaust manifold.

[@AutoRestoMod]

Lets hope this one comes apart easily.

[@wayne9979]

From Australia, once we could check the tune on the motor by the colour of the plugs after a long run. Fuels have changed over the years here and the 98 octane I run in my Stang , well you just can’t read the mixture by the colour anymore, no matter what you do, it’s always the same colour, it’s just what the fuel does these days. Love your work guys!

[@AutoRestoMod]

Interesting.

[@irzyxelwj]

I read my spark plugs and they told me to add 200hp. R.I.P. bank account

[@AutoRestoMod]

HAHAHAHAHAHA

[@paulbruno8327]

It’s not too bad, start working on the Galaxie 500!!! 🏁

[@AutoRestoMod]

LOL We went and got it Saturday.

[@TheFARM2019]

I liked that last idea of trying to retorque the head to see if that will bring that cylinder right back around… otherwise if youre stuck having to pull the engine, you might as well throw some upgrades to it like a top end kit 🤷🏽‍♂️ but thats just my opinion

[@blakeneysanders4264]

Rebuild please! I really need the info.

[@AutoRestoMod]

LOL if we do it will be later, lake the fall.

[@RealWorldGarage]

Getting caught up on all my videos from last week. I’d leave it be. If you open it up, it’ll turn into “if you give a pig a pancake” if you’re not familiar with that, it’s a kids book look it up. 😂

[@jeffhardman4687]

As a fellow F250, 390 fe owner, let’s pull it and overhaul it. Great video option!!!!!!!

[@AutoRestoMod]

We are seriously considering it.

[@p-51d95]

Pressure test the cooling system using a MityVac (IMO, a must-have tool for lots of things automotive). Don't overpressurize the system (maybe +10% over nominal spec)... don't want to blow a gasket. What to do next depends a lot on whether you actually do have a coolant leak into the cylinder (might explain the low compression number; albeit, the "wet test" on the cylinder does seem to indicate rings...

[@AutoRestoMod]

That is coming this week.

[@olemansailor6519]

I have driven and rebuilt every kind of ford engine you can think of. The 390 is like a 429. They run hurt for years. Until it starts fouling plugs, leave it be.

[@AutoRestoMod]

I think you are probably right.

[@jondavis7058]

Like anything, it's not going to get better I'd you leave it, but, you can monitor the rate of decay. I say, if it gets markedly worse, then you're going to have to do roughly the same level of effort to correct the problem. Since Col Mustard is a "garbage truck", I would put the time & effort into the Galaxie.

[@AutoRestoMod]

Agreed

[@waynep343]

Carb tuning . Mirror and a timing light looking down the primary carb bores. Bring up rpms slowly till you see fuel trickle from the primary boosters. Note that rpm on the tachometer. Look at air fuel ratio with a narrow or wide band air fuel ratio display. If its lean. Increase the idle feed restriction 0.001" and try again. If its rich. Add a thin bristle from a wire brush. Retest.. Test primary jetting at around 3500 to 4000 rpm ..

[@AutoRestoMod]

Man, why you gotta be all the way in Cali?

[@SixRoundsStudio]

This was a really good one guys. Learned sooo much! Beer...yup...beer.

[@AutoRestoMod]

Beeeerrrr.

[@brucethoel3636]

Another thought intake gaskets slipped;, they do that quite often. They suck oil from the valley.

[@AutoRestoMod]

Had not considered that.

[@yeboscrebo4451]

I love anything f100. Whatever you wanna do I’ll watch

[@AutoRestoMod]

We're going to jump back in on it soon!

[@yeboscrebo4451]

@@AutoRestoMod I’m currently trying to set up a fuel return line on my ‘69 f250. There are many ways to skin this cat and having the auxiliary tank under the bed compounds it all. My truck has huge issues with vapor lock and percolation. The other problem I want to solve is the annoying fact that driving on the highway with these trucks sucks! I’d love to boost my old beast into the modern era with an updated transmission.

[@clevelandmaker386]

If only there was someone who could show me how to read the plugs on a Starliner? I wonder who could it be??🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@AutoRestoMod]

Huummmm.

[@brucethoel3636]

Looks more like valve seals. If it was rings, the outside edge of the top of the piston would be clean.

[@AutoRestoMod]

Great point!

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

I never heard of pre-detonation, before. I am familiar with the terms pre-ignition and detonation, which are unrelated (and often confused), aside from being terms for abnormal combustion. Detonation is the result of the fuel charge being fully consumed too early in the combustion stroke (perhaps too lean or timing too far advanced), pre-ignition is ignition of the fuel charge prior to the spark event (hot spot in cylinder, possibly too hot of spark plug). Pre-ignition will quickly destroy an engine, whereas detonation damage occurs over time.

[@2lotusman851]

Unfortunately "pre-detonation" is what people who don't know what they are talking about say. Sorry, but its true. Pre-ignition is annoying, but detonation is the real killer of an engine. Detonation is uncontrolled combustion and is associated with huge combustion pressure spikes, which takes out pistons and head gaskets. Basically the spark ignites the fuel charge, the flame front advances partway across the chamber, then because of the heat and pressure, the balance of the the fuel charge explodes suddenly.

[@AutoRestoMod]

Or people who do who sometimes get their words mixed up...Spose that NEVER happens to you huh?

[@AutoRestoMod]

I misspoke.

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

@@AutoRestoMod It's painfully obvious people don't know the difference, proof is right here in the incorrect replies. Please get it right?

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

@@2lotusman851 "the balance explodes suddenly" How does this differ from my description of detonation, aside from making an unfounded conclusion based on an assumption? Pre-ignition most definitely can and more likely results in higher peak cylinder pressure magnitudes higher than detonation. In the case of all gasoline engines, optimum peak cylinder pressure occurs precisely at 14 degrees after top dead center.

[@gregorystone1439]

Coolant pressure test. Retorque the heads. Otherwise leave it alone until it gets worse.

[@AutoRestoMod]

All good ideas

[@stevepearson7745]

Blue devil block seal and run it until something else happens to it. Back to the Yellow Monster. 😜

[@AutoRestoMod]

LOL

[@SLAWDOG5150]

Awesome video 🏁

[@jd818]

Please leave a link to the Scope. How long is the cable?

[@AutoRestoMod]

I will add that today.

[@stephenhotzjustdriveit]

What about pouring small amounts of water down the carb while running to steam clean the pistons? We did that on a 302 one time and it helped.

[@TheOriginalLugnuts]

I remember doing that back in the day. With everything gone fuel injection you don’t hear of people doing it anymore. There’s also fuel additives and cleaners like seafoam (if that can even be used in a carb setup) that weren’t around or not very good back then.

[@AutoRestoMod]

I've actually thought about that.

[@thatguyoverthere9634]

You know I was just wondering about this today.

[@AutoRestoMod]

We are listening...

[@dragonslair59]

For what it's worth start building the other 390 and run what ya brung for now. Not sure if your doing a more performance build o. The second one ( ie poke and stroke 427) and when ya swap do a basic freshen up of the current one for the guys that find a diamond in the rough and wanna get it up and running

[@AutoRestoMod]

Think that is where we are going for now. The 390 in the Galaxie is going to hopefully get some good juice.

[@dragonslair59]

@@AutoRestoMod poke and stroke with aluminum heads?

[@curtcooper9447]

I know it's a lot of work. I would rering it thanks 😊

[@GregC1953]

Why Kick the can down the road Rebuild

[@AutoRestoMod]

We will

[@adamwnichols]

What causes a spark plug to burn the copper electrode and grounding strap off?

[@AutoRestoMod]

Burned. Blisters on the insulator tip, melted electrodes, or white deposits are signs of a burned spark plug that is running too hot. Causes can include the engine overheating, incorrect spark plug heat range, a loose spark plug, incorrect ignition timing or too lean of an air/fuel mixture.

[@adamwnichols]

@@AutoRestoMod thanks for the info. Engine temp is running within specs, and thermostat just replaced. The previous plug with this issue my have been loose. Will double check timing, after that will adjust carb fuel air mix if necessary. Thank you again for all you put into the channel!!!

[@jimgee2676]

if yall put a return line will it help with the fuel boiling ?

[@AutoRestoMod]

No, it's not practical. But I appreciate the suggestion.

[@michaelwelch5392]

I would put a new timing chain on it and walk away.

[@AutoRestoMod]

Not a bad idea.

[@saaskwatch5537]

If your going to show us bad rings, then replace the bad rings😀

[@AutoRestoMod]

That is so much easier to say than do...LOL

[@trevnerdhubbabubba6230]

Full rebuild and change that heavy intake

[@AutoRestoMod]

We are considering it. For the fall.

[@timwest9300]

Yes try retorquing the head

[@413x398]

Just a reminder to my fellow FE fans that today is the birthday of the Cobra Jet version of the 428. Party it up tonight. Don't run over any LS engine owners. Well, try not to. A little.

[@AutoRestoMod]

TRUE!

[@highrx]

Just get a rebuilt 460 and slap that in it. Go big !

[@AutoRestoMod]

We've talked about that. But that gets complicated. And fuel use is no better.

[@highrx]

@@AutoRestoMod I suppose the old 9in wouldn’t like that level of torque without some $$ upgrades?

[@mark98070]

Coyote swap it! The truck is in decent shape. Would make for many views and new subs. I don't think you'd be throwing good money down the toilet More likely would increase value considerably

[@AutoRestoMod]

Good plan...bad budget. LOL

[@yeboscrebo4451]

Ls swap! C’mon, everybody’s doing it