Idle Miss Gone

"Long_Voyager94" (yourenotavalidusername) 05/26/2020 at 16:44 • Filed to: Grand Caravan, spark plugs

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So for the last 5k miles or so, the new van has had a slight miss at idle under load, and a slight hiccup on WOT. It was never terrible, just enough to be noticeable.

Well, that miss is now gone, as is the stumble.

The plugs had definitely seen better days. No way in hell were they making it to the 100k mile plug interval.

Of course I upgraded to MSD Blaster coils and NGK Ruthenium HX plugs while I was in there.

I may have gotten ambitious and cleaned the casting flash out of the upper and lower intake manifolds for...........reasons.......

Now she idles smooth as silk, has no more midrange hiccup, and seems to have her fuel economy back.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Long_Voyager94 05/26/2020 at 07:15

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plugs and coils are always a good start.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Long_Voyager94 05/26/2020 at 07:23

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That packaging is quite nice

i86hotdogs > Long_Voyager94 05/26/2020 at 07:40

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Wish they made MSD’s for the TC

and 100 more > Long_Voyager94 05/26/2020 at 17:02

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I need to do this in my GC...

Is the upper manifold bolted down with that weird bracket on the FWD Pentastars as well? How hard was it to get to the rear plugs?

gettingoldercarguy > Long_Voyager94 05/26/2020 at 17:03

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First I've heard of the ruthenium plugs.  Cool stuff.

Long_Voyager94 > and 100 more 05/26/2020 at 17:21

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There’s a bracket on the back, to the right of TB, and a couple small brackets up front, super easy to pull the manifold off.

With the manifold off, doing the plugs/coils is gravy, plenty of clearance all around.

Nom De Plume > Long_Voyager94 05/26/2020 at 17:25

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I’m telling you, getting into a sleeper mid-life crisis mobile would make you a potent force among the local drivers.  Everyone would give you a wide berth at any speed.

Long_Voyager94 > Nom De Plume 05/26/2020 at 17:32

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I had that.........

340hp/465ft-lbs moved the old girl quite well.

Long_Voyager94 > and 100 more 05/26/2020 at 17:33

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Make sure you have a 5/16 deep well for the plenum bolts, a 10mm ( I used my ratcheting wrench ) for the brac ket nuts, and a 10mm socket for the coil bolts.

and 100 more > Long_Voyager94 05/26/2020 at 17:44

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I attempted the job once before, i think i need a rat chet ing wrench to get at those bracket bolts. In the GC engine bay, there’s so many hoses and wire bundles on the driver side right in that area, it’s hard to get a regular rat chet and socket in there.

Nom De Plume > Long_Voyager94 05/26/2020 at 17:47

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Certainly a sleeper.  More along the lines of past your prime mobile than mid-life crisis though.

punkgoose17 > Long_Voyager94 05/26/2020 at 18:58

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What is that?

Long_Voyager94 > and 100 more 05/27/2020 at 06:52

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Those wires and hoses need to be disconnected to remove the plenum anyway, so I just unplugged them, unclipped them, and moved them out of the way.

Long_Voyager94 > punkgoose17 05/27/2020 at 06:53

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66 Buick Electra 225.

Had a 465 Wildcat under the hood, aka the 425 Nailhead motor.

Long_Voyager94 > Nom De Plume 05/27/2020 at 06:55

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My ultimate sleeper would be one of these:

Nom De Plume > Long_Voyager94 05/27/2020 at 10:48

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Your commitment to vanlyfe is admirable.

You won’t find me debating against them being better than almost every other vehicle on the road in some critical ways. As they have been since the 90's.  Better you than the demolition derby guys hoarding them.