COP problems

[tdroege]

Hi, I bought my Bird 6 weeks ago and I am intrigued by the problems with the COP's and have been doing some reasearch on the subject. I have been wrenching cars since I was 14 years old. I am an industrial service tech . I finally had the time to take a close look at my engines COP's. The first thing I noticed that I did not like is they are completely covered and housed inside the valve cover. Didn't anyone ever tell the Ford engineers that heat distroys electrical components [ especially ignition coils] ? I see that Weapon X [ a company that makes aftermarket COP's] is making COP covers that have vents cut in them and also one even has a small fan built into the cover. Unfortunately they do not make COP's for the Tbird but the ones for the 4.6 mustang will fit except they are 1/2 inch higher so you will not be able to use the cover. I was considering leaving the covers off altogether anyway. However they are designing a modular COP that will fit many applications including the Tbird that they expect to have out in about a year. I cleaned all of my boots and put a light coat of dielectric grease on the inside and outside of them to help seal out moisture and retard arcing. i also crimped the end of the spring connectors so they fit a little tighter on the end of the spark plugs. I am going to hold out for the modular COP's that weapon X will have out next year..........Ted

[Thomastbird]

Re: COP problems

Thank you Ted. Very helpful. Unlike you, I have only been messing around with the wrench for a little while. I recently changed the plug and coil on #4--a little difficult for me to get to--and have left the cover off. Next, I am gonna attempt changing the gasket. I have a lot of oil in the #4 plug well.

Thomas

[Leroy]

Re: COP problems

Good News! Maybe some other after market high performance ignition manufacturers will follow suit also. Leroy

[redwog]

Re: COP problems

I agree Leroy! It IS about time - I have a fleet of Ford pickup trucks and this is always a problem starting at about 65k miles. May as well do them all!

[prbre]

Re: COP problems

my 99 volvo has cop as well pretty much like what on the thunderbird they have 190,000 miles on them. I have never had a problem with them, like on my thunderbird to me, I believe it just the cop on the thunderbird are just poor in design. Thats just what I think.

[Lonestar]

Re: COP problems

For you newbies & semi-newbies, you might want to check out this thread.

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...hlight=weaponx

[Leroy]

Re: COP problems

Gee! I wonder if I'm a newbie or a semi-newbie? And what comes after semi-newbie, and how long do you have to be a newbie before you move up to whatever is next? Newbie Leroy

[Black Bird]

Re: COP problems

You are a newbie until someone calls you an OLD F-RT, then you are an oldie. In my case I became an oldie very quickly as people were calling me a crazy old f-rt very quickly on this site, and I would not have it any other way. Now they call me
Bunny Lou (the crazy old f-rt) and that is ok also, just as long as they do not refer to me as DEAD. Bunny Lou

[DavidA]

Re: COP problems

I think loosening them and installing a shim or insulated washer on the lower side of the cover will help allow the heat to get out of the COPS cavity. I'm going to do this before our trip to Nova Scotia this summer.