KingJacobo

I was driving and randomly heard a loud noise come about. Pulled over, popped the hood and spark plug #7 is gone. Shot out.

I haven't confirmed the threads are stripped, but one can assume so. If it's not, easy fix. If they are stripped...I will need to get this mess fixed the hard way.

Can it be repaired with a time-sert or helicoil if I remove the exhaust manifold, without dropping the motor? I don't have access to a shop or lift anymore. I can only imagine what a local shop would charge.

stomis

Lol sure your car doesn't have a 5.4 triton in it?

Jokes aside I would check what thread the plugs are on a triton motor. There's like eleventy billion kits for that motor to fix a popped plug with the engine in the truck so I don't see why it would be impossible for you.

KingJacobo

I know right! I made a ford joke after it happened too.

It's just seems like such a tight fit in the back, I don't know if the tool would fit to drill out the plug.

Anyone know for sure or have any experiences with this?

KCS

iTrader: (20)

I would pull the head off, if the threads really are damaged and need repair.

Then I would find out why a spark plug popped out so it doesn't happen again.

billymgb1000

I don't know if this is a common thing but 2 times now I have had a couple plugs loosen up I'm wondering if that is what happened to you

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

I'd be uncomfortable to helicoil a spark plug hole and have metal shavings get into the cylinder..

I would remove the head, eat the $ for head gaskets and inspect them while they're off..

KingJacobo

Does removing the head require pulling the motor on these cars? Never dug into a motor before.

JRENIGAR

iTrader: (37)

This ^^^ or make this a perfect time to get some 243's or 799's for a bump in comp and hp with a lil added fuel mileage to boot.

JRENIGAR

iTrader: (37)

Heck no. You can have them off in a couple of hours depending on how easily your exhaust and crank pulley come off.

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

No need for to remove crank pulley, you must be thinking of a cam swap

Which if he hasn't is a good reason to do heads/cam lol

KingJacobo

I would love to do a H/C, but this is car is making me go broke right now and is my current DD since the Mark VIII is also down. No more mods for awhile haha.

RonSSNova

iTrader: (3)

You might just try a thread chaser in the hole, then carefully thread a new plug in and see if it tightens ok.
It may have just come loose, or was never tightened in the first place and just worked itself loose and popped out.

Ron

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

Yeah I find it hard to believe it blew the threads out, unless it was over tightened at one point and chewed up all the threads..

Idk you should stick a little retractable mirror back there and look.. It would be hard for the plug to back out on its own since the plug wire should keep it from turning..

But pure speculation at this point

JRENIGAR

iTrader: (37)

Wow, I forgot my thinking cap on that one. Good call.

Marc 85Z28

iTrader: (8)

Why not? I takes less than a minute and no tools...

If the thread is damaged and you insist on repairing everything yourself: Install a Timesert (DO NOT HELICOIL). Beware though, as Timesert kits are NOT cheap. It can be done in-car, but it's a PITA. You don't HAVE to remove anything, but removing the coils, exhaust manifold, and steering shaft makes access much better, along with unbolting the master cylinder (leave lines attached) and moving aside.

If you break any of the manifold bolts, just pull the head.

If you decide to remove the head and have a machine shop repair it, you're out the cost of a head gasket, head bolts, and fluids. Local machine shops here only charge around $70 to install a Timesert.

Edit: Use ls1howto.com for cylinder head removal. Ignore the part numbers and the water pump removal (rent a PS pump pulley tool).

KingJacobo

I can't confirm it yet because it's #7 which is in the back of the motor so I can't just stick my head in to see, and I don't have my mirror tool. It's also too far in for my hands to thread.

KingJacobo

The threads are janky as I thought. There is play in it with the new plug "in", I just tightened as best I could for right now since it's my dd.

Looks like I need to pull the head and rethread as suggested.

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

Well it's an easy fix for what it's worth.. Just time consuming

StorminMatt

I know this is an old thread. But from my experience, it is somewhat common for the rear threads to be stripped. The problem here is that, because those rear plugs are so inaccessible, people often don’t start the plug straight. The result is a plug that went in crooked and a cross threaded hole. That’s why it is VERY important to seat the spark plug all the way by hand before using any kind of leverage on the plug.