The center electrodes look good but the side ones are quite worn. I'll replace them with some new platinums. Looks like the upper intake gasket is thick, possibly with a metal core like the reusable transmission gasket. (Stamped right in the pan that it's reusable.)
I changed the transmission filter and fluid and engine oil and filter yesterday. Ford says it can use 5W-20 for a slight MPG improvement but with 91K on it I decided to stay with the original 5W-30.
Trans has that issue where once in a while it doesn't want to engage then suddenly does. I put some Lucas transmission stuff in it, had good results from it in other automatics and it also works great to quiet noisy power steering. I'm hoping the problem was due to the filter needing changed.
I also got a new accessory belt, had to make a tool just for releasing the tensioner. Bent the head of a 9/16" bolt over 90 degrees then milled it to a 3/8" square. Then I faced off both ends of a cheap six point 15mm 3/8" drive socket to get it short enough to fit between the tensioner and frame rail. Could Ford put a bit of a dimple in the frame there for more room? Oh heck noooo! That'd be too smart. Just like how they routed an exhaust pipe directly under the oil filter so it's impossible to not dump oil on it when removing the filter.
Same goes for V6 and V8 engines in front drives where large amounts of stuff like half the intake manifold has to come off just to change spark plugs. Can't the people who design these things be smart enough to figure out how to position things so there are holes through all the stuff to access the plugs?
Yet another "Good grief why?!" is all the vehicles where there isn't a hole directly under the radiator drain. Nooo, can't have that. Must have it so the coolant runs onto things that make it spread out and dribble from everywhere.
Two I've had to work on recently, 1995 Buick Century and 2004 Dodge Dakota quad cab. Grab the person responsible for the structure below the radiator, hold their ears and make them look at that part - "PUT A HOLE RIGHT THERE DUMMY!".
At least I have a single post in ground air/hydraulic lift in this 1950's vintage garage.
