5.0 spark knock under hard acceleration

[PKRWUD]

None of the wires should be touching, but it's particularly important with 5 & 6. They fire sequentially( 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8), and are next to each other on the same side of the engine. Perfect conditions for a misfire. As the rpms increase, so does the coil output, which makes even the best wires little good if they're touching.

If a 180 degree t-stat drops your engine temp, then the radiator is partially clogged. Your cooling system is designed so that the hot fluid stays in the radiator long enough to lose the heat. A lower temp t-stat allows the fluid to circulate back into the engine too soon, and will eventually cause the system to overheat, UNLESS there is something restricting the flow, like a clogged radiator, so that the fluid loses it's heat while in the rad. Like I said, the bottom line is that if cooler than stock (192) cools the system more, than you have a problem, likely a clogged rad.

Mustang fuel pumps are no better than anybody elses, and yours will need to be replaced in the not too distant future. Listen for it to start getting unusually noisy, especially in the morning, as a sign that it's end is near.

Take care,
-Chris