P0301 Fault Diagnosis for 2000 Ford Van 4.8L V8 - Common Causes and Troubleshooting Steps

I recently encountered a P0301 diagnostic code on my 2000 Ford Van with a 4.8L V8 engine, which has been used infrequently and equipped with an automatic transmission. During a road trip, the check engine light activated mid-journey, and Auto Zone confirmed the fault code as P0301. Based on standard troubleshooting procedures, I plan to begin by inspecting the spark plug wiring and the spark plug itself for cylinder #1. If those components appear normal, the issue may extend beyond basic ignition—potentially involving fuel injection problems, faulty coil pack (each cylinder has its own coil), or issues with the catalytic converter. I'm sharing this post to determine whether P0301 is a common occurrence on the 4.8L V8 Ford engine and if there's a widely recognized most likely root cause for this specific code. As a test, I intend to replace the spark plug in cylinder #1. If that doesn as a resolution, I will swap the coil pack from cylinder #3 (which currently works) to cylinder #1 and monitor whether cylinder #3 then triggers a P0303 code—this would help confirm if the issue lies with the coil pack. Any additional insights or experiences with this fault on similar Ford V8 engines are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!