Does anyone know of someone who has crossed threaded a plug and fix it themselves without taking the heads off. I see there is a kit at autozone for repairing damaged threads. What is the best retreading tool?

Thanks for any feedback. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />

 

It will be extremely difficult to repair thread while the head is still on... Because all of the metal shavings will go into the cylinder.. and we dont want that.. Best to take the head off bro..

 

Pull the head or run on seven cylinders.

 

I beleive you can get a tap that will put the shavings in the outside. I remeber seeing something about one on a supercharger install. They used it when they tapped into the oil pan. You could probably find one. Try to contact Snap-On or a big tool vendor.

Josh S.

 

Here's a quick link to the process. Besides the "helicoil", there is another popular brand, just can't remember who makes it right now. In any event, when you drill out the old threads it's going to be difficult to keep shavings out of the cylinder.
http://www.emhart.com/products/helicoil/install.htm

 

If it isn't that bad you could use a thread chaser.I used this many times on the aluminum heads on my Blown Mustang.

 

No the cross thread is not that bad. It is one of the last few threads. If I had a tool that could not push the shavings in that would do the trick. A chaser is the only thing I could think of. Thats why I was asking for any input incase there was something out there I didn't know about. I'll try my luck.

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

 

Use a thread chaser with plenty of grease on it to capture the shavings. A couple in the cylinder is not going to do any harm. Look at how many people have found the pads missing from their platinum spark plugs without any known damage.

 

Where can I get a good chaser from? The only one I have located required a 1/2 drive which is to big to get in the tight space or is to short to start a good threading.

Thanks again

 

If you use a thread dye to retap you can magnetized it to a certain degree, that plus grease may be enough to not permit any shavings in the motor. just thread a little and back it all the way out to grab the shavings. Ive never done this on a motor block, though. Its just an idea. Has anyone tried this idea before?

 

Magnetizing it won't work on aluminum.

 

I have not had the chance to get the engine on auotap but I pulled the #1 plugwire off of the coil and started the engine and got a horrible miss and rocking engine. After installing the plugwire back on the coil and restarting the engine it was much more smooth and flowing better. Maybe I am still getting a little fire to the plug. Auotap or a scan tool will tell the whole tale. It was real easy to create this problem. I removed #1,3,5,and 7 plugs. When I installed the #1 first I didn't have a reference to compare the depth too. After they all where installed and I notice the big difference in offset form the rest of the plugs. Man, I feel like a dumb*** this is not my style of work at all. Thanks for the feedback guys.

 

I always put some oil or something on the threads and just thread 'er on easy.

If you use a thread chaser, maybe you should bring that cylinder up and then use a vacuum to pull out any shavings?

 

I had to helicoil my brothers old geo.. we let the shavings fall into the engine.. didnt hurt a thing. I wouldnt be too super concerned about it a shaving.. i dont think you have enough weight or material thickness there to really hurt anything. But do it dry (no oil) with a shop vac and tape a bic pen to the end of it to suck out whatever might fall in.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Jason:
<strong>I had to helicoil my brothers old geo.. we let the shavings fall into the engine.. didnt hurt a thing. I wouldnt be too super concerned about it a shaving.. i dont think you have enough weight or material thickness there to really hurt anything. But do it dry (no oil) with a shop vac and tape a bic pen to the end of it to suck out whatever might fall in.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"><img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> It was a GEO dude... This is an LS1 we are talking about..... The cost of an LS1 engine is equal to an entire GEO....LOL

 

I wonder if you can blow enough air thru the intake while rotating the engine to crack open the #1 intake valve to put positive pressure in your #1 cylinder and blow the shavings out as you go.

 

Pull the #1 plug. Disconnect all the coil wires. Crank th eengine over, I guarentee it will blow out the shavings...

 

Forgot to add to use anti-seize compound on the plugs whenever you remove/replace them. It can be found at Autozone in a tube or a can with a brush. It keeps the plugs from sticking to the threads and pulling them out when the plug is removed. They advise not to get the stuff on the plug electrodes.