Was trying to thread in a compression checker into #2 and boogered up the first couple threads in the hole. Any ideas on how to fix this? Is there a special thread chaser tool that I can use to fix this with out pulling the head or engine? My problem is finding a way to start chasing from the inside - out instead of starting from the outside and working in. Arrrrrgh, simple damn procedure turns into a catastrophy.

 

The access is so bad on a 4th gen that I think you are going to have to pull the head.

Rich

 

There was another recent thread that mentioned an inside-out spark plug thread tool that NAPA has. You might at least have to remove the exhaust header to gain some room.

 

Thanks for the tips. I'll do a search for that NAPA tool. I really dont wanna pull the head for this stupid thing. Oh well.

 

YES! snap-on makes a tool, I have one, search their site. I forgot to check my threads on my set of heads I got one time I think it's like $60. It works really good.

 

Just curious: Why not use a simple thread chaser to straigten out a couple of threads? I realize you don't want shavings dumping into the cyl, but geez, just straightening out a couple of threads doesn't sound that serious. JMHO

 

You can do that if you can see what you are doing. The problem is that there is so little room and you have to get it started right. Globbing some grease on a chaser will trap most shavings and you could blow the rest out by spinning the engine with the plug out.

 

It is a bugger with the exhaust manifold in place, but it can be done if you have enough patience.

 

Because once those 1st few threads are toast its almost impossible to get them straightened with the others. I tried using a normal chaser but everytime I threaded it in just f'ed it up worse. There's nothing to guide the chaser into the good threads. I had to unbolt my LT headers to use the snap-on chaser.

 

Just saying why not give it a shot, and if it doesn't work out, then go for the inside out thingy. Seems you are not going to have anymore room to work with that tool either, so as was mentioned "if you are really careful" it can be done. JMHO

 

I believe the inside out spark plug thread repair tool also cathes the shavings if any so you don't have to worry about them getting in the cylinder.