83 280zx Plug threads stripped out in head

866 Views 9 Replies 5 Participants Last post by speednick, Jan 22, 2011

Joe Business

Discussion Starter · Jan 20, 2011

So I go to change the spark plugs even though they looked like they weren't too old. My reason, I was having a slight put put here and there. I finally find my 13/16 ths socket go outside pull out the first plug... the new ones not going back in, did autozone give me the wrong one? I get out my glovebox flashlight and see that the upper half of the threads in the head are scattered in the hole. When I tried to get them out they fell into the cylinder. Can that cause cylinder wall scoring or valve seat damage if I just re-tap and put an insert in or should I pull the head as not to even risk it?

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speednick

· #2 · Jan 20, 2011

Shoot some oil into the cylinder to prevent wall scoring if some particles of REALLY SOFT aluminum binds at cylinder wall to piston gap. Leave head on and grease the helicoil tap, removing it frequently to clean debris stuck to grease. Follow remaining instructions for heli-coil insert and stick the plug in and fire it up. No worries....Done it many times with no issues.
Nick

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heroe

· #3 · Jan 20, 2011

Your post makes me angry. Just step away from the car. Did your mechanic sell you the sparkplug socket as well?

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palladin

· #4 · Jan 20, 2011

Tell me this is only one cylinder. They make a tap for spark plugs. You might want to try that first. Nick, what about shoving some tissue in first to catch any particles? This is why I always blow my threads out, shoot some oil or WD40 on them, and then hand thread the plug. It is way too easy to cross thread it with a socket.

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Joe Business

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 20, 2011

Yea its only the one thank god and I also did hand thread the plug in; its just that it didn't catch which is when I noticed the threads on the old plug and all in the hole. Ive dealt with this before but on cast iron heads where a magnet can be used. I was thinking maybe adapting a bendy straw to a vacuum somehow. Sounds good though, I just was worried about the whole scoring issue in case any thread was left behind. Id rather de-commision it for a weekend than damage it you know.

Thanks

and heroe whats the deal dude, really?

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palladin

· #6 · Jan 20, 2011

Not a bad idea about the straw...what about a 1/2" clear tube available at Lowe's

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theghosttanker

· #7 · Jan 21, 2011

none of this straw/tube discussion is necessary. A few aluminum shavings aren't gonna bother anything in there.

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speednick

· #8 · Jan 21, 2011

Sounds like a second to the second post...did it upside down off the back of a 55 hp Merc outboard in rough seas (a houseboat) The stern kept dunking me under waves while putting the insert in! We were headed for rocks and it spit the plug out. It was do or die, but Ive done it on plenty of cars. The new Ford Modular motor is noted for it. The threads get destroyed pulling the old plug out. You'll be fine!
Nick

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Joe Business

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 21, 2011

Thanks for the feed back, I just got a thread chaser and will be getting to the bottom of this. Still gonna vacuum just to be sure, it cant hurt anything.

And that sounds like one **** of a time nick, hope you had a life jacket!

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speednick

· #10 · Jan 22, 2011

No life jacket....some one was holding my feet!! If you insist on sucking, then have someone roll the motor over with a wrench while doing so and you will get air flow through the intake and the exhaust valves to help suck it up the debris.
Yawn....Nick

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