Re-Thread

[wil_wil2]

Well today while driving home from work in my '89 Accord, I heard a pop and my exhaust got really loud, and I lost power. So I pull the car over and pop the hood and noticed that my spark plug was popped out of the hole on the #3 cylinder. I tried to thread the plug back in but it was no use the threads were right fucked. So my question to you guys is what brand of re-thread kits do you recommend? I have used heli-coil on head bolts and was pleased with them, so are they good for spark plug re-thread kits as well? Or would it be easier just to throw a used head on since I have to remove the head anyways?

[wil_wil2]

So i'm guessing no here has re-thread a spark plug hole?
What really boggles my mind is that the old plug will thread back in problem while the new one seems too small.

[spoolin_gt]

That's the car you bought recently?

[Arabian_Knight]

mayb you should post this in the appropriate forum so that it gets the right attention from people who might not check out off topic all the time. Or maybe ratko can move it, it might help u get the proper attention

[VPZD]

first off make sure the old and new plugs are the same size/type. if the new plug is what the car calls for take the old plug to a parts store and have them cross reference them. sounds possible old sparkplug wasn't tight enough. had it happen to me with a 88 chevy s-10. if you can get a sparkplug back in the head then you most likley WON'T need to swap heads or rethread your current one either. be sure to put anti-sieze on the sparkplugs threads before you torque them down. and yes save yourself some time later. use a torque wrench. dont guestimate!

[wil_wil2]

Originally Posted by spoolin_gt

That's the car you bought recently?

Yes it is the car I bought recently

Originally Posted by Arabian_Knight

mayb you should post this in the appropriate forum so that it gets the right attention from people who might not check out off topic all the time. Or maybe ratko can move it, it might help u get the proper attention

Yeah I realized I didn't post it in the forum after the fact, but if Ratko is willing to move it...

Originally Posted by VPZD

first off make sure the old and new plugs are the same size/type. if the new plug is what the car calls for take the old plug to a parts store and have them cross reference them. sounds possible old sparkplug wasn't tight enough. had it happen to me with a 88 chevy s-10. if you can get a sparkplug back in the head then you most likley WON'T need to swap heads or rethread your current one either. be sure to put anti-sieze on the sparkplugs threads before you torque them down. and yes save yourself some time later. use a torque wrench. dont guestimate!

The old and new plugs are the exact same plug(same make, same model, same size). And as for the old plug not being tight enough thats not the case. I will need to re-thread the hole because the one plug has a segment of thread that is slightly stretched(I didnt put the exact cylinder plug back in for this reason). Next time I will use anti-sieze since its an aluminum head.

[MartinGouda]

easier just to throw a used head on since you have to remove the head anyways

[Pineapple]

Canadian Tire got re-thread kit. Its not heli-coil, its kinda "Form a thread". Check it out in Loctite, gasket section.

[JR]

Originally Posted by MartinGouda

easier just to throw a used head on since you have to remove the head anyways

and possibly more reliable

[wil_wil2]

Originally Posted by MartinGouda

easier just to throw a used head on since you have to remove the head anyways

I was contemplating that, but I will ultimately make my decision when I remove the head.

Originally Posted by Pineapple

Canadian Tire got re-thread kit. Its not heli-coil, its kinda "Form a thread". Check it out in Loctite, gasket section.

Is this 'Form a Thread' an insert of some sort that you tap? I also dont shop a Crappy Tire, I only shop at NAPA, and Acklands since I get a very generous discount.

[JR]

the more I think of this, the more split decision I am...if u are using it for a commuter a new head would be much more reliable, and lessen the chances of it happening to any of the other plugs. also an aluminum head may be a little difficult to re thread properly (I dunno for sure, just guessing)
if it's just a beater that you just wanna keep running for a little longer, than possibly just a re-thread, becuz it'd prolly be cheaper.

this is one of the questions where I wished I still worked in a car shop, so I could ask one of the mechanics, lol

[wil_wil2]

I work with mechanics all day, and I am also very mechanically inclined. But after discussing it with them it is still up in the air as to what is better to do. I think the best thing for me would be to buy a re-thread kit(I still need info on what brand is better to go with for an aluminum head) then take the head off, and see it is worth re-threading. If it is I will re-thread it, if its not I will find another head and return the kit. BUT I still need imput on which is a good re-thread kit for plug holes.

[JR]

talk to your buddies at whereever u get your discount...they should know that kind of stuff

[wil_wil2]

They might know, but they will probably just try to make me spend money on more items than is needed for this fix.

[VPZD]

down here we have good ol' boys that have been around engines since they were kids. you know anybody like that. someone that dosen't work on cars for a living?