Hi everyone,

I blew my spark plug out #1 yesterday. I'm reading around trying to find some answers any help would be appreciated.

I have over 90K miles on this R53 and it came to me used about 4K ago. I found the spark plug sitting on the valve cover. It had a cylinder shaped piece threaded inside and out screwed onto the plug which I was able to remove. From pictures I've seen on the web, that looks like a helicoil? Previous repair?

The plug with the helicoil on it just goes up and down in the hole now.

Does that mean other "quickie" type repairs are out of the question. New head the only option, ideas? I'm an "OK" shade tree mechanic and comfortable doing things on my own but if I had too I would take it to the shop. I've even considered buying a aftermarket head from mini madness or something like that.

Thoughts? Idea? An advice or help from one of you out there would be appreciated. I know others have faced this.
Thanks,
JD
Portland, OR.

 

What you see is most likely the aluminum threads still threaded onto the plug. But if it is a helicoil, you might not be sunk yet.

I had #3 blow out. They put in a Time-Sert. The repair was done without removing the cylinder head. To keep shavings out of the combustion chamber, a wad of nylon stockings was stuffed through the spark plug hole. When the repair was complete, long hooked wire was able to extract the nylons - with all the metal shavings clinging to that.

Time-serts are stronger than helicoil more durable, and you can save a lot more variety of stripped threads. It is used more for spark plugs than helicoil.

 

Thanks nabeshin. I looked at some pictures online and it looks like a helicoil came out on the spark plug. I was actually able to remove the helicoil and compare it to pics online. I will check on the Time-sert. Hopefully time-sert repairs can be made after a helicoil repair has been made?

 

Last yr I repaired a stripped thread on my (new to me, DON’T you just luv those PO’s) motorcycle.

Here’s some of the research I did.
The Ford V10 is notorious for blowing spark plugs.

Copied from

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/99...th-photos.html

1. HelliCoil Insert
2. Time-Sert
3. True-Torque "Stich Weld" "Approved by Ford"
4. Calvan.
5. Other Inserts

http://www.denlorstools.com/home/dt1....4__4.6_l.html
HelliCoil

http://www.denlorstools.com/home/dt1...to_repair.html
Calvart

http://locknstitch.com/sparkpluginserts.htm
True Torque

http://www.timesert.com/
Timesert

http://www.blownoutsparkplug.com/?gc...FYdh2godtnOxqQ

I went with the cheep method, wasn’t going to spend more on the plug repair that the cycle was worth.

“fix a thread” a cheep knock-off of HelliCoil
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...mString=search

This should be an easy DIY, it was on my motorcycle.

The more research you do before...The BETTER your results will be.
Your head is a little ill, you don’t want to hurt the block!

Tip number 1 and 2, 3, 4…
1.” a wad of nylon stockings was stuffed through the spark plug hole.” Thanks nabeshin.
2. Put grease on the cutting tool, this will catch most of the shavings.
3. Clean the tool often reapply new grease. Cut at least 2 or 3 threads before removing the tool to clean! Then about every thread and a half after that.
4.
?. Last tip, use your shop vac to clean around the hole then seal it against the hole.

ab

 

thanks for all the info abjb, great help!
I will look into all these options and try to find one I can do after a helicoil has been done once.