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| Sparky the no fit plug; threads stripped apparently | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 5 2011, 06:11 PM (1,243 Views) | |
| Bon2000 | May 5 2011, 06:11 PM Post #1 |
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2000 metro 1.3 4 cyl.....the car started sputtering and running real rough,wife had it up to her moms when it happened,they trailered it back and i took a look,my second spark plug was sitting loose and wont tighten in,threads are stripped,also took out the boot on coil....so bought a new coil and a helicoil tape set,problem,the tap is 3/4 inch socket size at top,the socket wont fit in to the hole,the tap does but allows no clearance,took valve cover off and still same problem....i do not want to pull the head off the car to fix the plug problem....any ideas? Thanks |
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| Johnny Mullet | May 5 2011, 08:51 PM Post #2 |
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Fear the Mullet
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Get a junkyard head. Seriously, this will be the only way to resolve this issue correctly. It's good hearing from you again Bon2000. I was wondering how you been. |
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| Bon2000 | May 5 2011, 09:30 PM Post #3 |
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thats a great idea,there isnt a junkyard around for 2 hours of here that has one, thought of that,i really dont have the money to buy a head and gaskets,and would have no clue on the complete tear down and fix if this either,thats a major undetaking right,almost a rebuild? Edited by Bon2000, May 5 2011, 09:30 PM.
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| Memphis metro | May 5 2011, 09:33 PM Post #4 |
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Take it to a machine shop and see what they can pull off. |
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| Johnny Mullet | May 5 2011, 09:34 PM Post #5 |
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Fear the Mullet
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Not really a major job. Just need a mechanic friend, a head gasket set, and a good head. Could be done in a weekend. |
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| Memphis metro | May 5 2011, 09:42 PM Post #6 |
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Is the material around the head enough where you could drill or ream out the head where you need the socket to go in? You might also try welding the tap to 3/8 inch extension to fit in the hole. Or just buy a longer tap. Better stuff you something down in the cylinder to catch all that crap with. |
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| mcmancuso | May 5 2011, 10:11 PM Post #7 |
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I had this exact same thing happen, I put in the helicoil kit (think it was a different brand) worked fine for me, maybe try to find a thin wall socket?? |
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| Good bye | May 6 2011, 12:52 AM Post #8 |
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If there is a Ford dealer near by they may have the authorized repair kit for the 4.6 and 5.4 v-8s. The kit costs $1500. We bought the kit at work and I repaired the center stripped spark plug hole on a v-10 in an econoline. This was a much cheaper option to replacing the cylinder head is this van. The kit has aluminum inserts and transfers the heat to the head properly. My daughter had two plugs blow out of her 97 Expedition in Arizona on the way to Disneyland a couple of summers ago and the Ford dealer there used the same kit to repair her car. Both repairs are still going strong to this day. |
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| starscream5000 | May 6 2011, 08:13 AM Post #9 |
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Got 70 MPG?
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This, on both accounts. |
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| mcmancuso | May 6 2011, 09:20 AM Post #10 |
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I covered my tap with brake grease, caught almost everything, then I used a screwdriver with grease on the tip to grab the bits I missed
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| bansheetaz | May 6 2011, 09:34 AM Post #11 |
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save a thread spark plug kits. comes with a tap to oversize (use grease on the tap to collect shavings and put a rag down the cylinder first) then screw in the new insert with red loctite. then with included special tool hit it with hammer to expand the threads and lock it into the head. can be done with head on the vehicle. ive done 5 or so all with success on vehicles that were much harder to access the spark plug hole. |
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| Good bye | May 6 2011, 10:48 AM Post #12 |
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You can start it before you install the insert and BLOW the tiny chips out. |
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| starscream5000 | May 6 2011, 12:06 PM Post #13 |
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Got 70 MPG?
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You will also risk scoring your cylinder bores by doing that. Just rotate the engine to TDC for that cylinder and use grease on the tap. |
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| Memphis metro | May 6 2011, 07:35 PM Post #14 |
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Definately would not start it to blow them out. Take a compresser air hose and blow them out. |
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| Bon2000 | May 8 2011, 05:16 PM Post #15 |
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thanks for all the great advice.....i actually ended up grinding down the tap i had so it would accommodate the same size socket as the spark plug itself,i applied a bunch of grease to the tap,and it caught almost all of the shavings,used the grease on along socket extension to catch what i missed and then a bendable magnet with grease on it for the rest,I realize the magnet wouldn't pick any of it up,but had a good bendable angle with which to work with,i got the insert installed no problem,and car ran great,i have to pull the valve cover off and re-gasket it,worried it might leak since i broke that seal.Car is running quieter then it has in a long time,which tells me that plug has been working itslef out for a few months
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Welcome to the all new Geo Metro Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.






thanks for all the great advice.....i actually ended up grinding down the tap i had so it would accommodate the same size socket as the spark plug itself,i applied a bunch of grease to the tap,and it caught almost all of the shavings,used the grease on along socket extension to catch what i missed and then a bendable magnet with grease on it for the rest,I realize the magnet wouldn't pick any of it up,but had a good bendable angle with which to work with,i got the insert installed no problem,and car ran great,i have to pull the valve cover off and re-gasket it,worried it might leak since i broke that seal.
8:00 PM Jul 10