The Unofficial "Ask a Stupid Question" Thread

[CDsDontBurn]

There's a pour lip at the front of the k-member, just for that oil.

I'm very aware of that, but it also has that wire loom which is the part I hate the most.

 

[XR7-4.6]

There's a pour lip at the front of the k-member, just for that oil.

That lip is useless. The lip doesn’t pour fast enough for the oil coming out of the filter and it just overflows the channel like a clogged gutter in a rain storm. Plus a bunch of oil usually gets on sway bar and drips off of it well forward of the K member.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Thoughts on spark plus' wear?

 

[Grog6]

Dude, you have to take closeups, then combine them. All I can see are wide gaps; measure them with a feeler gage to see, but I think those are toast. If the gaps over .075, I'd replace the wires, because they would be stressed.
EDIT: I'm an idiot,and forget how much you can zoom phone pix now.
The round edges of the center electrode, the platinum pucks are gone, Outer electrode thinned; You got your money's worth out of those! might consider 1 step colder plug.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

take closeups

 

[MadMikeyL]

They look worn, but the coloring looks good, and there’s no buildup or fouling, so I’d say it’s running good, and a new set will probably help your fuel mileage.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Dude, you have to take closeups, then combine them. All I can see are wide gaps; measure them with a feeler gage to see, but I think those are toast. If the gaps over .075, I'd replace the wires, because they would be stressed.

Stock gap is like .054 if I recall. Those look greater than that. Measure them and let us know.

As they're laid out here's the order.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

They look worn, but the coloring looks good, and there’s no buildup or fouling, so I’d say it’s running good, and a new set will probably help your fuel mileage.

New FoMoCo plugs are installed. Picture of the old set to show all here and ask "how is my engine running", which you answered, so thank you .

 

[Generalee0527]

Any tips on how to avoid making a mess on the K-Member during oil change times?

Don't change the filter. I thought it hilarious when I was inspecting a '95 bird in the local pull a part and from underneath I saw the filter lying on the k member where the JY tech gave up and left it when they drain all fluids for environmental reasons. I just laughed and laughed and and was like dude needs to Man up.

 

[Jae 'Bird]

Thoughts on spark plus' wear?

I think only on a forum for a 30 year old car platform could someone expect to find a photo of spark plugs laid out in order on a towel labelled front and rear and it not be odd at all, this isn't a dig, I just love how dedicated we all are .
Also those plugs look great other than the gap, mines a V6 but I also had a large out of spec gap on all my plugs when I pulled them last year, nice work.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Q: What do you guys think would have gone first on my Gold Bird?

• Intake manifold (plastic crossover)
• Serpentine belt
• Coolant hoses

All components listed were original to the car and had some degree of degredation to the point of, "How in the hell has this not given out on you yet?"

 

[XR7-4.6]

#1 Belt




Distantly




#2 manifold

#3 hoses

 

[Grog6]

Every plug I've read from a 4.6 reads lean; light tan to white. And those look like they have over 100k. The wider the gap, the higher the voltage goes. I use a spare coilpack for feeding a tesla coil.

I could have sworn I moved the 4.6l Spark plug thread I wrote over here last night, but it's gone. Did I hallucinate, or did it get deleted?

 

[CDsDontBurn]

What is the shelf life of an opened bottle of brake fluid?

 

[CDsDontBurn]

What is the shelf life of an opened bottle of brake fluid?

Google says no more than 2yrs if properly sealed.

 

[Kenz]

Google says no more than 2yrs if properly sealed.

So.... I probably should throw out the 2 liter jug of dot4 I been using for the last 10 years?

Its still clear and I keep it sealed, so my inner cheapness isn't gonna like that

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Since nobody seems to want to purchase the '93 Mark VIII steering wheel, and it's way prettier than mine with the leather spokes, I'm considering using it for myself.

Is it possible to put my MN12 internals into that wheel?

Specifically, the MN12 internals are one perfectly contained element without loose wiring. The Mark VIII uses various pieces connected by loose wires.

I realize the cruise button mounting points are different. @XR7-4.6 , I read your write-up regarding illumination, which contains useful information (though I do not intend to add illumination).

My questions specifically are:

1. Can I transfer the single-piece MN12 horn switch base to the '93 Mark steering wheel? (Do the four mounting bolts line up?)
2. Can I transfer the MN12 cruise switch circuit board (including the connector which plugs into the MN12 horn switch base) into the Mark cruise switch housing?
3. Does anyone want to save me all this trouble by purchasing this beautiful steering wheel?

Thanks!

 

[dDUBb]

So.... I probably should throw out the 2 liter jug of dot4 I been using for the last 10 years?

Its still clear and I keep it sealed, so my inner cheapness isn't gonna like that

Brake fluid is hydroscopic .. it will absorb moisture from the air. So long as you keep it sealed; I dont see any other reason for it to "go bad".

 

[Zep5.0]

Similar to oil, which you wouldn't think could go bad if sealed

 

[XR7-4.6]

Since nobody seems to want to purchase the '93 Mark VIII steering wheel, and it's way prettier than mine with the leather spokes, I'm considering using it for myself.

Is it possible to put my MN12 internals into that wheel?

Specifically, the MN12 internals are one perfectly contained element without loose wiring. The Mark VIII uses various pieces connected by loose wires.

I realize the cruise button mounting points are different. @XR7-4.6 , I read your write-up regarding illumination, which contains useful information (though I do not intend to add illumination).

My questions specifically are:

1. Can I transfer the single-piece MN12 horn switch base to the '93 Mark steering wheel? (Do the four mounting bolts line up?)
2. Can I transfer the MN12 cruise switch circuit board (including the connector which plugs into the MN12 horn switch base) into the Mark cruise switch housing?
3. Does anyone want to save me all this trouble by purchasing this beautiful steering wheel?

Thanks!

Since nobody seems to want to purchase the '93 Mark VIII steering wheel, and it's way prettier than mine with the leather spokes, I'm considering using it for myself.

Is it possible to put my MN12 internals into that wheel?

Specifically, the MN12 internals are one perfectly contained element without loose wiring. The Mark VIII uses various pieces connected by loose wires.

I realize the cruise button mounting points are different. @XR7-4.6 , I read your write-up regarding illumination, which contains useful information (though I do not intend to add illumination).

My questions specifically are:

1. Can I transfer the single-piece MN12 horn switch base to the '93 Mark steering wheel? (Do the four mounting bolts line up?)
2. Can I transfer the MN12 cruise switch circuit board (including the connector which plugs into the MN12 horn switch base) into the Mark cruise switch housing?
3. Does anyone want to save me all this trouble by purchasing this beautiful steering wheel?

Thanks!

Won’t work. The circuit boards and switches just so happen to fit Mustang cruise housings but that’s the extent of the interchange, same with the horn bottoms etc. Ford designed the steering wheel to look identical in every car/truck/suv but made every one of them application specific.

I’d probably buy it from you but I’m getting nickel and dimed between my cars recently, I just had to buy a replacement Cobra caliper so I’m a little light this week

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Won’t work. The circuit boards and switches just so happen to fit Mustang cruise housings but that’s the extent of the interchange, same with the horn bottoms etc.

Ok, but....the dimensions of the horn switch and bolt locations look so similar.
And Mark circuit boards fit Mustang housings; but MN12 boards do not fit Mark housings? I mean, come on, Ford.

. Ford designed the steering wheel to look identical in every car/truck/suv but made every one of them application specific.

With MN12 internals by far the best design. Surprising.

I’d probably buy it from you but I’m getting nickel and dimed between my cars recently, I just had to buy a replacement Cobra caliper so I’m a little light this week

Pay in four easy interest-free payments?

 

[Little Ice-Cable]

https://share.google/nmfkpUByvJFCOQkAJ
Would the fit on my car? I know there are "no performance gains" but I want one I have always found a bigger throttle body a good thing.

 

[Kenz]

Ok, but....the dimensions of the horn switch and bolt locations look so similar.
And Mark circuit boards fit Mustang housings; but MN12 boards do not fit Mark housings? I mean, come on, Ford.



With MN12 internals by far the best design. Surprising.



Pay in four easy interest-free payments?

Give it a try and see if you can make it work.
I took a risk and bought a Monte Carlo black non leather steering wheel (hard to find in good condition) for my Firebird. It ended up fitting perfectly, airbag, and horn.... now the car interior looks factory original

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Give it a try and see if you can make it work.
I took a risk and bought a Monte Carlo black non leather steering wheel (hard to find in good condition) for my Firebird. It ended up fitting perfectly, airbag, and horn.... now the car interior looks factory original

Oh, making it work is no problem. I could just use the Mark wheel including its Mark internals.

I'm just trying to be  extra geeky by using what I consider the superior internals.

 

[Wile E. Coyote]

Am I able to run LEDs in the digital cluster?

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Regarding MN12 cruise switches, I had to see for myself. Not that I don't believe you, @XR7-4.6 !

They do not contain circuit boards at all. Rather, the circuit is molded into the plastic:




So I suppose I'd have to use the Mark steering wheel as a whole unit. The connector fits, and the wiring colors match.

But will the Mark switches work with my PCM? Can I assume that the resistors are the same or at least produce the same currents as MN12?

 

[XR7-4.6]

Regarding MN12 cruise switches, I had to see for myself. Not that I don't believe you, @XR7-4.6 !

They do not contain circuit boards at all. Rather, the circuit is molded into the plastic:

View attachment 13865


So I suppose I'd have to use the Mark steering wheel as a whole unit. The connector fits, and the wiring colors match.

But will the Mark switches work with my PCM? Can I assume that the resistors are the same or at least produce the same currents as MN12?

Cruise isn’t controlled by the PCM. The buttons simply switch between different resistors, changing the current going through the 1 wire. The cruise module uses that current to interpret the drivers input.

All Fords of the era use the same resistance for the buttons, so whether you have vacuum controlled cruise of 95 and earlier MN12s or electronic servos of Marks 96 and later MN12s the switches tell the module for it the same thing.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

So there's no reason whatsoever why this steering wheel wouldn't work, right? Other than the grain of the plastic not quite matching the MN12 dash.

 

[XR7-4.6]

So there's no reason whatsoever why this steering wheel wouldn't work, right? Other than the grain of the plastic not quite matching the MN12 dash.

It’s a direct fit, in fact @97 30th used a Mark wheel as the core for his custom steering wheel(note the cruise buttons and leather wrapped spokes)

 

[CDsDontBurn]

It’s a direct fit, in fact @97 30th used a Mark wheel as the core for his custom steering wheel(note the cruise buttons and leather wrapped spokes)

View attachment 13866

I hella dig that dual din stereo! I'd be super nervous to cut into it though, lol