Community Forums

RV LYONS · 08-06-2011, 07:46 AM

Hi my nephew is looking at a '99 coachman C class, 31' on a Ford E super duty chassis. What years did Ford have with the spark plugs, I remrmber reading about them but I don't remember what years.
Thanks Rick & Robin

John Hilley · 08-06-2011, 08:43 AM

They changed to 8 threads during 2000, some 2000 heads may have 4 threads. They had another problem that caused misalignment of the plugs which was corrected in 2003.

pkunk1 · 08-06-2011, 09:00 PM

The 4 thread plugs may or may not be a problem. I have 63K on mine and still running strong(knock on wood!) as do many others with the early V 10. At this stage in the game and for the amount of $$ he might invest, I'd say it's worth the gambol. There is a repair kit available if he does blow a plug.

WilleyB · 08-07-2011, 08:01 PM

Quote:

'99 coachman C class, 31' on a Ford E super duty chassis.

It will have the 4 thread spark plug heads. It really isn't a problem IF the work on changing the plugs is done correctly. #3 spark plug is the most difficult to get at on the Van chassis and I believe #5 on the F series truck chassis, and those are the ones to blow out because of not being torqued correctly.
When we bought ours (used) the plugs were changed. Evidently it wasn't done right and #3 blew out. Being very hard of hearing I didn't hear the exhaust leak or I would have retorqued it correctly myself. I had it repaired at a Ford dealer and they guaranteed I wouldn't have another failure from their work. It was done correctly and 20,000 miles later no problem. (I did recheck them myself before going on a cross country trip and they were good) I have no more fears of a sp blow out from now on it's a good engine. To the best of my knowledge they didn't put the 3 valve engine in the vans because of heat build up or maybe it was lack of room as it's pretty tight in those engine compartments
Cheers
Willey

RV LYONS · 08-18-2011, 06:17 PM

Thanks everybody for the info, my nephew is still looking, he wants to stay with the 460 V8

Seajay · 08-19-2011, 04:21 AM

My 2 cents worth....
I have a 2000 Pace 33 foot coach on a Ford chassis powered by a Ford V10 engine with 112,000 on the clock an it is still ''ticking'' like a fine swiss watch. I wish everything on the coach was as reliable as the V10. I change the oil every 5000 miles and I try to keep it at or below 3500 rpm most of the time. I talked to a full timer once that had a coach exactly like mine (even the color scheme) and he told me that his V10 had over 200,000 miles on it and he had never had a problem with it. From all I can read and all I hear the V10's are one fine engine and seem to give good service for a long time.
Mind you this is just my opinion concerning the Ford V10. Yours may differ.

God keep our troops safe....... and bring them home soon ....

RELHUB · 08-19-2011, 05:24 AM

I also have 2008 V-10 with 55,400 miles, no problems and runs strong. I would say if you find a MH with the V8 you like great but do not rule out any MH with the V-10.

IC2 · 08-19-2011, 05:28 AM

I have a V10 powered TV which has been a great truck and with "only" 72,000 miles on it feel that it has just been broken in. This is a '06 with the three valve engine. This is a much improved engine as far as Hp and torque along with better exhaust as well as no spark plug blow out problem. A later vehicle is worth looking for if the budget allows.

A mention about the spark plugs on the later engine 3 valve is that the Ford engineers traded one problem for another in that they spec'd a very long body and expensive plug that can get carbon locked in place and you have a problem removing them plus they occasionally break while removing if the Ford TSB isn't followed. If they break, well that's another set of tooling, time and dollars

. These $$$ (~$15/each) plugs have a 100K life span so many folks never have that worry.

I do have to say that for pure honest working grunt, the venerable 460 absolutely cannot be beaten, especially if it has better cylinder heads then the later shrouded one and an improved RV camshaft set 'straight up' - but those days are mostly gone

Nick-B · 08-19-2011, 01:53 PM

Hi Rick,

The 460 is a tough motor indeed, however your nephew will have to look at older coaches for that motor. Class A 460s were 1998 and older (though some late 98's had the V10) and Class C 460s were (I believe) 1996 and older.

The 460 will really "wake up" with a set of headers and good exhaust. Mine did!

RV LYONS · 08-21-2011, 05:19 PM

Thanks again for the info, he is trying to stay under $15k. He's not in a hurry,and he is very handy,and he has a pop up now and 4 kids. I am looking to go the header route on my rig, any preference Thorley or Banks
Thanks Rick & Robin

Nick-B · 08-22-2011, 08:09 PM

Hi Rick,

Banks is the gold standard and priced accordingly ($$$$). Thorley and Gibson are good too.

I purchased the Hedman Elite coated headers and Flowmaster exhaust. They both make packages that are bolt-on and CARB certified for the F53 chassis. I spent just under $1000 for the headers AND exhaust from SummitRacing.com.

Toughest part is getting the old exhaust manifold bolts out without breaking any. I was lucky and mine all came out in one piece.