I was driving down the road when my #3 sparkplug popped out of it's hole.

I tried to screw it back in and it would seem to catch but with a little wiggle I could pull it completely out.

I think the threads are stripped but when I use a mirror to look at it, it looks okay.

If the threads are stripped, what can I do?
Any temp fix so I can get to work?

 

You probably stripped the outermost threads but not the inner ones. Get a spark plug tap and see if you can straighten the threads out a bit. If that doesnt work, youll have to get it welded/retapped.

Tighten your plugs up tighter!

 

Actually it was catching with the very inner threads.
But when I tried to tighten it, I think I made it worst.
I can push the plug in and out without messing up the anti-sieze I've put on.
That probably means it's too late for a spark plug tap right?

I've heard there a new thing out thats like jb weld thats just for stripped spark plug.
Is that true?

 

This happened on a friend's '94 Z28. We pulled the head and had it fixed at a machine shop. It's a day's work, but worth it to do the repair correctly.

Good luck!

 

WTF.... my number 3 plug striped it's self out last year, haha, what's up with that?


I just used about 7 old spark plugs that were sitting around to re-thread it, worked perfectly.

 

If a tap doesnt work youll need to have it tapped larger and a helicoil put in place to restore the original size. The head doesnt neccessarily need to be removed, but it's alot easier for the machinist to do with the head off, at the least the exhaust manifold will need to be removed.

 

Helicoil it. You should be able to do it with the header out. The same thing happened to me and luckily it was the #1 plug so all I had to do was get the slip on primary off my header and a member of the board helped me out.

 

Most parts stores have the kit about $25. It can be done on the car you may have to remove the manifold/header and the steering link to get to that plug. Make sure the motor is cold and dip the tap/reamer in crisco to catch most of the chips then vaccume out the cylinder with a shop vac and some 3/8 hose. Just follow the instructions & take your time the tap will guide itself and act as a reamer to open the hole to the new size and also rethread it......1 tool does it all. Steven

P.S. I am the one who helped out Scott.

 

Thanks for all the replies.

Guess I'll start taking off the header.

 

THat same exact thing happened to one of my buddies... weird

 

hmmm, Guess I'll be double checking all those plugs when I retighten my header bolts tomorrow......