I just finished changing my valve cover gaskets on my '03 LS V8 along with new spark plugs & new coil packs. It wasn't as hard as I initially thought it would be. I had Christmas week off so that was the perfect time to do it.
I took my time and worked on the passenger side one evening and then I did the drivers side the next night.
I bought my parts from:
Bob Utter Ford - Sherman, TX
Part number Part Description Qty Price Total
2W4Z*12029*B Ignition coil, 3.9 liter 8 $51.02 $408.16
AGSP32FSM SPARK PLUG ASY 8 $5.30 $42.40
3W4Z*6584*BB KIT GSKT CAM CVR 1 $60.63 $60.63
3W4Z*6584*AB KIT GSKT CAM CVR 1 $60.63 $60.63
Sub Total $571.82
Shipping $9.95
Total $581.77
My local Ford Dealership wanted $656 just for the labor. I decided I could save the money and do it myself. I even saved several hundred dollars by not buying the parts from my local Ford dealer.
I am the second owner of my '03 LS V8 and I am glad I went ahead and replaced all of the plugs while I was replacing the Valve Cover Gaskets because it looked like they haven't been replaced in a long time. They were worn down and the GAP on them were between .056-.050, I GAP'd the new ones to .041. Two of the eight coils & plugs were bone dry and the other six were flooded with oil. I found that using craft pipe cleaners from walmart or hobby lobby worked really well with soaking up the oil and using a towel to wipe off the fuzzy pipe cleaner before dipping it back down in the spark plug well to get more oil out. Once the oil was cleaned out I used a paper towel to wipe the spark plug wells dry and then replaced all of the spark plugs.
The car runs absolutely great now and doesn't go into failsafe mode anymore.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ON THIS SITE THAT POSTED INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL GUIDES ON THIS SUBJECT. YOU ALL REALLY HELPED ME OUT!
Steven Brown
2003 Lincoln LS V8