Head crisis! *Update!*

[konjiki7]

Well me and my gf were working on her 93 hatch... she some how stripped the last plug...

Its the type stripped feeling where you turn the bolt while feeling resistance... but it will just spin infinitely in both directions.

[comatoseculture]

heli-coil kit. to get it out.....best of luck. prying and turning doesn't help?

[konjiki7]

dw40 and gorilla strength free the plug in 2 pieces...

I then used an 5/16 easy out bit to remove the threaded sparkplug terminal sleeve part from the head. Which was pretty easy... I used a very power full magnet to remove the metal shavings.

Next the threads in the head are still f*** so i decided to us a sleeve kit instead of a helicoil....
It looks something like this...http://www.jcwhitney.com/spark-plug-re- ... 04267.jcwx

The problem with this kit is the threader requires a 19 mm socket which will not fit in the head. I also purchase a heli coil kit because the threader actually fit on a 3/8 socket which easily fit...

Now i slow rethreaded the head while my assistant sprayed wd40 in the hole periodically.

[konjiki7]

Its now time to clean out shaving a magnet will not work with aluminum so would a shop vac be a good way?

I also heard a couple shade tree mechanics talk about using a wet and dry vacuum cleaner and water to remove the shavings. (after setting the piston to its compression stroke.)

I do know water is a by product of the combustion process and its often burned of during cold starts so i know i wouldn't harm the engine.


Any idea's? I would like to avoid replacing the head studs and gaskets. Which I've been told is good insurance when removing the head.

[konjiki7]

Re-threading the head was successful... Here are the steps i took to do this with out removing the head.

Required tools.

A can of wd40 bigger then small
Ratchet
Ratchet extension
3/8 socket
16mm deep socket
12mm socket (for removing the valve cover.)
2hp or more wet and dry vac
Water hose : )


1. Free the plug if it’s stuck... then remover the valve cover (see fsm)

2. Set the piston to a semi tdc positions. (Half compression stroke). A cool trick I used was... to set an extended tip screw driver in the spark whole. The top of the screw driver was too big to fit in the spark-plug whole. I first set the piston to tdc if you have a led light you can easily spot it. Then slowly rotate the crank shaft until the screw driver sits half the distance of tdc.

3. Now take the threader that came with the head sleeve kit lube it up! W40 will work just fine just.

4. Keep turning the ratchet or drill. Just remember to go slow and maintain an even entry. Back it out after a rotation in a half or when you mild resistance. Respray and repeat

5. Once your done once respray you threads with wd40.

6. Now fill the head up with water and take a wet/and dry vac and suck the water and metal bits out. (Mine was an old 2hp that sat under my porch for 4 years…)

7. Repeat this a couple times until the vac stops pulling tiny bits of aluminum. I took me 3-4 tries before everything was clean.

8. Put the valve cover back on! (see fsm) Done!

Pictures coming soon…

[Camaro Chris]

It also works good to put lots of thick grease on the tap it holds all the shavings so they don't fall in the cylinder. I used this same tactic for tapping my turbo oil return on my camaro

[konjiki7]

It also works good to put lots of thick grease on the tap it holds all the shavings so they don't fall in the cylinder. I used this same tactic for tapping my turbo oil return on my camaro

The metal shavings will then stick to the cylinder head as well as the tap... How would that remove them from the cylinder head before screwing in the spark plug sleeve? I doubt the shop vac will get all of it... not sure if i would recommend this for a cylinder head....