can anyone advise where to get the gaskets i will need when i change the spark plugs?, also what gaskets will i need?
thanks

 

iownme, do you have to have new gaskets, NO. Now, with that being said, a lot of people would say that since you are that far into the motor, might as well put in new gaskets so you don't have to worry about them later. The gaskets are like $30 as I recall (upper intake gasket set). When I did my car, I did not change out the gaskets. So, up to you.

As for locating a gasket set, try your local auto parts store and see what they have for you. Looking online, Advance Auto Parts has the gaskets for $21. I'm sure places like Autozone and Napa will also have the kits. Worst case, tell them you need the gaskets for a 2004 Lincoln LS 3.0L motor. The gaskets are exactly the same.

Your call.

 

thanks Thermo...advance is only able to order the lower set, so i ordered them anyway, hoping thats what i need, i'll try napa in the morning. I'd like to have them with me when i change the spark plugs just in case any of them are bad, may also be contributing to my hesitation issue (gasket or a plug)
I havn't torn this car down since i bought it so i'm looking forward to getting my hands dirty before the real cold weather gets here :+)

 

iownme, the lower set is a different set than the upper set. The lower set essentially seals the joint between the heads and the intake. The upper set seals the two halves of the intake together. I guess I called it the wrong thing. Advance calls it the "plenum gasket set". It is part number 96494. It is made by Felpro. Stand by, it is expensive. It is a whole whopping 14.69. I know that might break the bank. He he he he he.

 

gosh darn it...lol
i'll call advance in the morning and change my order, thanks for catching that for me. I did look on the advance website earlier and only found the lowers and the plenum you mentioned.
Do you have any experience in different plugs in the X type?...do any stand ahead of the crowd?

 

and i was laughing at the $21 price for the lower set...lol
yeah....jags are reaaaaal expensive to repair

 

iownme, I can't talk specifically about the Jag engines, but I do have some experience with some other modern Ford engines and different plugs. Going with the "fancy" multi-spark spark plugs are only good for 1 thing, lightening your wallet. They don't help the engine run any better nor do they improve engine horsepower or efficiency. So, stick with a quality double platinum plug and call it good. If you want, you can go with an iridium plug, but again, you are spending a bit more on something that is not going to net any performance gains. The only advantage the iridium plugs have is that they have a longer life (for atleast 100K miles). So, pretty much those plugs would be the last that the engine would ever see.

 

Thermo...is there any point in me changing the lower plenum gaskets while i have the upper intake off?...it's quite easy to remove the lower intake isn't it?

 

once you are to the point of doing the plug change, then yes, the lowers are easy to get to. Unfortunately, you are looking at about 60 minutes of wrenching to just get the upper intake off, probably another 30 to get to the lowers. But, if you are in there, might as well change them to eliminate a potential source.

 

thermo, I didn't end up doing the lowers, i found the intake so easy to remove i figured i'd just go back in if the plug and gasket change didn't work. Fortunately the new plugs or gaskets did fix the hesitation problem. I also cleaned the throttle body and MAF sensor....(with the correct agents)
thanks for the advice:+)

 

iownme, not a problem. That is why we are here. Enjoy the kitty and get east of Rochester and open that kitty up as you are heading towards Ontario. Nice stretch of road there to open things up in.