Sucks!!! I just got my car back from the body shop with a brand new '01 bumper and a good 3 hours later...boom.

I was about a block away from a local Ford dealer so I dropped it off there. I get a call from them saying that I blew a spark plug outta cylinder head. I WAS one of those guys that assumed that any old basic copper plug would be fine with a your basic stock 2V motor. Well Ford says that the Autolites that were used, the threads didn't match the Cylinder heads. :censored:

They wanna hit me with 1400 for parts (cylinder head, gasket kit, etc) and 1500 for labor. :censored: Sooo, I had the car towed home last night and my buddy and I are gonna pull it apart today. Should be fun.

Any suggestions?

 

helicoils.

thatll fix that problem, or should.

 

That's exactly what I plan to do. I'm not convinced that it's a permanent solution or just a quick fix. Sorta like riggin' it to work.

 

What plug did you use?

 

Are you going to put the Heli-Coil in with the head on? If so,you'll have to drill & tap the head. you'll need a drill bit extension cuz the spark plug hole sets in the head quit deep as you probably know. I suggest putting light air to the spark plug hole and droping the exhaust header/manifold. Turn the engine over by hand until the air starts blowing out the exhaust port for that cylinder. Then you have a good exit for the debri to blow out. Also, suck it out with a Shop Vac (at the same time).Build a snorkel out of thin cardboard or duct tape on the exhaust port (no leaks air tight)and suck it out. Bad news is if you blew 1 out the other 7 maybe right behind. Next time you put spark plugs in use antiseize on the threads and they should go in by hand until they seat then tighten them a lil. Always start any fastener into an Aluminum part by hand. I hope this helps. Good Luck

 

Autolite 764's I believe... I don't quite remember the number but I know that they were autolite's.

 

Thanks! Will do. I'm going to change the other plugs and hope it's not too late. Now I'm thinking I should just go ahead and replace the heads all together.

Suggestions?

 

Where the F did you get the plugs? Who the F put them in? The heads are alum, if the plug( with antiseize on it-this is a MUST) did not start in easy you F'in stop and check your stuff out. If all the same plugs were install in the car then all the threads are F'ed up. If the plugs are correct maybe that ONE just got cross-threaded.

 

I have autolite 746s in mine and I didnt seem to have a problem. I had one that was goofy coming out before the autolites but ill deal with the problem as it comes.

wheels1 had a great explination on how to do the helicoil install with tips.

 

Just a warning helicoiling an aluminum head is not always going to fix your problem. I have read many threads on several mustang boards where a new head had to be purchased eventually.

Good luck though.

 

Use this as an excuse to get new heads from VT or MPH. BTW anti sieze is not a must, http://www.modularpowerhouse.com/for...ad.php?t=32977

 

i saw somewhere there was a problem with sparkplugs blowing out on f 150 s and it was always the same cylinder i think #3 but dont know about the mustangs but i would check it out

 

I haven't heard of this but my friend has. Says it always seems to happen on the passenger side. The kit that we may use is Time-Sert. Again I say, MAY use. Thinking of not fixing it at all and replacing it. It being the engine! That 4.6 to 5.4 swap is very tempting.

Me to my fiance~ "Bad news babe...the engine...WE need a whole new one."

 

haha, oh god. Good luck with that.

 

If you end up needing heads let me know RIGHT AWAY!!! I can get you a deal on a used set (PI stock). My motor is blown, but the heads are good. I am going the let the shop take the motor for a small fee, so if you decided you want heads, let know and I will let them go cheap.

I need to know by tomorrow.

 

Thanks Dude, I'll let you know.

 

i helicoiled one of mine and ive raced it and it has 9 dyno runs under its belt and all is still good

 

I love my 5.4

 

+1...i never use it either

 

It's not a must but I do it all the time.

 

ya know I would have hit up the dealer for their **** up if you could prove that those were the same spark plugs that were in there. It sounds like whoever put them in originally cross threaded them. But you should have noticed if the spark plug was not going in easy by hand. That is a relatively easy fix....

 

I just got my car out of the shop last week with the same problem. I have a custom insert installed. The mechanic that did it for me has done it over 100 times with 0 call backs. He said the heliocoil is a bad idea. He assured me that even under boost this custom insert will hold. I got the car back and I was racing the same night beating the hell outta the car and I haven't had any issues. I only paid $540 after tax to get back on the road. PM me if your interested....

 

Thats a pretty royal "we" you're using .

 

Swap cams while you're at it!!!!