Stripped spark plug AND helicoil repair.
#1
Stripped spark plug AND helicoil repair.
A friend of mine has a '91 Ford Probe which runs fine, except it throws a spark plug every once in a while.
The plug (a 14mm thread like ours, but with a slightly longer reach... 0.75") came out once and some mechanic helicoiled the head and reinstalled the plug. Now it's done it again and the car has sat for about a year.
Here's my idea:
Drill out and tap the head for a 18mm threaded spark plug, NGK's website if pretty useful in this regard... but I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of this being done with success?
I don't see why it shouldn't work, as long as the heat range and reach is the same as the stock plug.
If it doesn't work I'd end up buying a $200 to $300 head, a $100 gasket kit, and wasting my time repairing that piece of junk.
Please tell me this isn't insane.
The plug (a 14mm thread like ours, but with a slightly longer reach... 0.75") came out once and some mechanic helicoiled the head and reinstalled the plug. Now it's done it again and the car has sat for about a year.
Here's my idea:
Drill out and tap the head for a 18mm threaded spark plug, NGK's website if pretty useful in this regard... but I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of this being done with success?
I don't see why it shouldn't work, as long as the heat range and reach is the same as the stock plug.
If it doesn't work I'd end up buying a $200 to $300 head, a $100 gasket kit, and wasting my time repairing that piece of junk.
Please tell me this isn't insane.
#2
You probably don't have enough material left to thread properly for 18mm unless you install another helicoil. However Helicoil also makes an insert called save-a-thread. It is a metal sleeve that screws into the head and is swedged in place. The kit comes with everything you need. When we install them, we put loc-tite on them. Give that a try and be sure when you do, the exhaust valve is open so you can blow the particles out the right direction. Probably won't do the cats any good though.
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Darth_tsunami
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09-18-2015 01:57 AM