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Help..Spark plug stripped out...what to do?

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Old 08-22-2007 | 03:15 AM
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Default Help..Spark plug stripped out...what to do?

Well, about four years ago when I first got this truck and didn't know much about them and such...it had a bad miss fire and I had no clue what was going on, so I took it to firestone...first and last time I'll ever go to a place like that. Cost $250 dollar something for new spark plugs and plug wires to fix it.

I told you that to tell you this...
A year or so later...I had another bad missfire, so I said "yeah right" to firestone and took it upon myself to fix it and that is when I joined LS1tech.

Anyway, with the help of my brother we figured out it was a faulty plug wire. So we went ahead and changed the spark plugs as well while we were in there. So he started working on one side changing plugs and I come to change the #1 spark plug and it won't freaking budge and I'm like what the heck...anyway I let my brother know and he gives it a try and no luck. Then come to find out the damn plug hole is stripped out and it takes us a good 30min to get that single plug out. Thank you firestone

So, is there anything I can do now to fix this or is it FUBAR? I mean I changed plugs once since then and it runs fine and all, but it is really hard just on that one plug...so hard that I am thinking about buying a new motor.

Thanks for any help.
Old 08-22-2007 | 07:45 AM
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time for new heads LOL...

-I've helicoiled plug holes carefully and had zero problems with sealing... even on nitrous
Old 08-22-2007 | 09:23 AM
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No need to replace the motor - or the head. Just put a helicoil in the plug hole!
Old 08-22-2007 | 12:01 PM
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Helicoil huh? Never heard of that. How hard is it to do?...Where can I pick one of these up at? Also, is there a certain size I need to get for the spark plug hole?
Old 08-22-2007 | 04:24 PM
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I did a Google on "Helicoil" and found this site. Check out the link to the brochure and video for more info.

I think that spark plugs are a 15 mm thread but I could be wrong. I have no idea what the pitch is. Replacing spark plug threads should be a very common application for this, so it shouldn't be too hard to find the specs from a vendor.
Old 08-22-2007 | 04:30 PM
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Originally Posted by silver-mod-o
time for new heads LOL...

-I've helicoiled plug holes carefully and had zero problems with sealing... even on nitrous
...sILVERMODO IS RIGHT! i HAD TO DO THE SAME EXACT THING ON CYL # 7. A HELICOIL AND 30 MINUTES AND YOUR ON YOUR WAY AGAIN.
Old 08-22-2007 | 04:52 PM
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I know the local Pep Boys sells the thread repair inserts similar the Heli-Coil. They look pretty cheap to me. Check this page out. the insert looks MUCH better than what Heli-Coil sells. They don't list the cost of the inserts separately so you'll have to email them to find out more.
Old 08-22-2007 | 11:37 PM
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How much did yall pay for the helicoil repair kit for the spark plug hole? I am seeing a wide variety in prices on some sites.
Old 08-23-2007 | 12:56 AM
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you can get one for under 10 dollars and it wont take to long to do you just rethread the hole and in sert the new treads you will need the 14mm one i have used them befor with no problems
Old 08-23-2007 | 01:01 AM
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Cool, I will check out O'Reilly's and auto zone 14mm



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