Big Problem Urgent Help Needed!

[crazy a$$]

hey long time no see u guys haven't been back to the site for a long time. anyway about 2 weeks ago a spark plug fired out the engine when i started it up. (yeah i thought the same)anyway i screwed it back in and was fine ever since. however is has just happened again and i cannot seem to screw it back in i think the thread in the block has stipped i cannot see as it is dark at the moment. basically WHAT NOW? can this be fixed or is my car a write off because of this? i pray to God not!

cheers

chris

 

[Anonymous]

Firstly mate, find out whats causing it to shoot out, maybe the spark plug is incorrect or too tightly in and the piston keeps hitting it.

I doubt its a write off, you can go to the scrap yard and get the head off another car if the screw hole has been messed up.

Wouldn't panic, sure Tom maybe able to help you out some more.

Joske

 

[Brian]

Engineering shop might be able put in a Helicoil thread insert. Is the thread on the plug knackered? Did you put in a new spark plug?

 

[Tom]

I posted a reply to this but it went AWOL.

Yup, any good engine engineering firm should be able to helicoil it but its a head off job so not quick or particularly cheap. Remember to get the head skimmed otherwise you will never get it to seal quite right again.

 

[crazy a$$]

cheers guys dad said sommin about a helicoil job too. the plug itself looks fine the thread isn't even marked.

chris

 

[Tom]

Steel plug vs ally head - plug wins

 

[Grandad]

Tom,I used to fit Helicoils when 'I wur a lad' and the whole idea of them is that the head does not need to come off! The thread cutter is coated in grease to contain any swarf and the coil is fitted using the tool which keeps hold of the tang on the coil and withdraws it. If a particle or two of soft alloy were to get into the pot, it would soon disappear!

 

[crazy a$$]

well that certainly sounds less expensive, fingers crossed. Student finances are running seriously low. can any one place a figure on how much this might cost me? i wont be able to find out till tuesday at the earliest great timing! and i need to get back to uni!

chris

 

[Grandad]

Don't know about now, but I could put one in in less than an hour

Depends if the tool has a 'line of sight' approach to the plughole!

 

[Tom]

I wouldn't want to get any metal in the cyl!

The plugs are soooo far down in modern heads you won't get the helicoil tool down to it.

 

[Grandad]

Must have changed them. The one I had was about a foot long.
And you can chew ally filings, so 160 lbs per sq. in. will make short work of them at 2000 degrees!

 

[Tom]

The only ones I've seen are about 6-8" long. I'd still rather keep ally bits out though