How screwed am I?

onesticker · Nov 3, 2004

My #3 sparkplug decided to come out on it's own again. This time it decided to take all of the threads on the cylinder head with it. Ford will not cover under warranty due too the mods on my car. Is this something that can be fixed (tapped) or do I need to do a head swap. The dealership wants $4,000 to fix, which I think is outrageous. Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated. If I have to buy a new cylinger head, what other parts am I going to need to go along woth it besides the gasket? Where can I buy these parts?

RTRMustangGT · Nov 3, 2004

That sucks man! I would think you would need to replace the head. I wouldn't feel comfortable re-tapping the head. My two cents though.

r281 · Nov 3, 2004

The dealership wants $4,000.00 to fix it! That hurt me.

w00t · Nov 3, 2004

Dealership wanted $7000 to replace my block in my Vobra. Ended up just selling it.

mity2 · Nov 3, 2004

is this something common on 4.6GT??

jstreet0204 · Nov 3, 2004

Helicoil will hold it. There is a way to do it without removing the head. Just be careful.

V8SRGRT · Nov 3, 2004

Listen.....This is what happens when you try to put too much performance on a stock engine.....basicly...you are screwed!!!! Not only will Ford not fix this under warranty but they will probably never fix anything on your car under warranty due to the mods you did. If you are going to build a race car then start with a race engine.....not something off a showroom floor. At least wait for the car to be out of warranty before you even think about doing heavy duty mods....... Best of luck to ya. I hope other stangers learn from this.....YES, It can happen to you too!!!!!

Indiana · Nov 3, 2004

I had a stripped plug hole in my Toyota pick-up. Had a local shop put a helicoil in ($40). It's been running fine for an additional 100,000 miles.

jstreet0204 · Nov 3, 2004

V8SRGRT said:
Listen.....This is what happens when you try to put too much performance on a stock engine.....basicly...you are screwed!!!! Not only will Ford not fix this under warranty but they will probably never fix anything on your car under warranty due to the mods you did. If you are going to build a race car then start with a race engine.....not something off a showroom floor. At least wait for the car to be out of warranty before you even think about doing heavy duty mods....... Best of luck to ya. I hope other stangers learn from this.....YES, It can happen to you too!!!!!

I didn't realize they hardened the spark plug threads on the aluminum heads of a race engine.

This has happened to many people with aluminim heads. Stock or otherwise.

Hammer'03' · Nov 3, 2004

A helicoil repair will work just fine. If your not familiar with the repair take it to a good shop.. Not Ford, and the repair cost shouldn't be to bad. It can be repaired by tapping it with grease on the tap to catch most of the alum. chips. What falls in the hole is minimal and will be blown out on start up.

V8SRGRT · Nov 3, 2004

jstreet0204 said:
I didn't realize they hardened the spark plug threads on the aluminum heads of a race engine.

This has happened to many people with aluminim heads. Stock or otherwise.

I bet you it has happened to less people than you think.....and at least if it happened to me it WOULD be covered under my warranty because i am not dopey enough to S/C an engine that is under warranty and never had a S/C to start with.......guys....its a roll of the dice every time, sometimes ya win & sometimes you crap out!!!!! peace out

jstreet0204 · Nov 3, 2004

V8SRGRT said:
I bet you it has happened to less people than you think.....and at least if it happened to me it WOULD be covered under my warranty because i am not dopey enough to S/C an engine that is under warranty and never had a S/C to start with.......guys....its a roll of the dice every time, sometimes ya win & sometimes you crap out!!!!! peace out

Nope, it happens all the time. All it takes is a little overtightning when you change the spark plugs, or some debris on the threads. Why do you think its so easy to buy helicoil repair kits for stripped spark plugs.

BTW Good luck getting your tranny fixed under warranty, with your non-dopey triax shifter.

V8SRGRT · Nov 3, 2004

jstreet0204 said:
Nope, it happens all the time. All it takes is a little overtightning when you change the spark plugs, or some debris on the threads. Why do you think its so easy to buy helicoil repair kits for stripped spark plugs.

BTW Good luck getting your tranny fixed under warranty, with your non-dopey triax shifter.

LOL......Its never a problem when you WORK for FORD!!!!!!! The service manager at my local dealer thought it looked pretty cool......imagine that. Helicoil kits are just for that reason.....overtightening and fouled threads. Did you notice in the original thread that the #3 plug backed out on him AGAIN????? Hmmmmm......once again...if ya gonna play you usually gotta pay

onesticker · Nov 3, 2004

Just got a call bach from Tachyon racing heads here in Jax. They are going to do a helicoil repair tommorow for $150. That is a whole lot better than $4000. The shop owner says that it should hold up fine since the actual sleeve is stronger than the head itself. I am so relieved now. Anyway, thanks for the replies and yes I may be "dopey" enough to put a supercharger on my car under warranty (only 1,000 miles left) but I sure am having fun in this car.

V8SRGRT · Nov 3, 2004

onesticker said:
Just got a call bach from Tachyon racing heads here in Jax. They are going to do a helicoil repair tommorow for $150. That is a whole lot better than $4000. The shop owner says that it should hold up fine since the actual sleeve is stronger than the head itself. I am so relieved now. Anyway, thanks for the replies and yes I may be "dopey" enough to put a supercharger on my car under warranty (only 1,000 miles left) but I sure am having fun in this car.

Hey.....as long as you can afford it my friend.....more power to ya........peace out

stangboy999 · Nov 3, 2004

Hey onesticker, not to get off topic, but what side of town are you on.. I think I've seen your car a couple of times.

GinoGT · Nov 3, 2004

V8SRGRT said:
Hey.....as long as you can afford it my friend.....more power to ya........peace out

Are you always like this, or just in this thread?

rcilurso · Nov 3, 2004

I love that guy talking about his unmoded car and calling you a idiot for modding a showroom engine. lol. yeah race engines are much better for holding in sparkplugs. Let me ask a question... did you or Ford use antisieze on the plugs? I have seen quite a few blow out with the antisieze. I think Ford actually suggests it. Holy crap could the gods at Ford be making a mistake? Yeah Peace out man.

By the way I have well over 600 rear wheel horsepower in my 04 Anniversary car with the engine it had in it on the show room floor.

nickthegenius · Nov 3, 2004

GinoGT said:
Are you always like this, or just in this thread?

When I was just beginning to miss MustshameLife, we stumble upon a replacement.

99StanGT · Nov 3, 2004

It's actually a pretty common problem. It happened to me in my 99 GT. Modding it has nothing to do with it, it's all about the install. I overtightened mine and it came out. I paid 50 bucks to have it helicoiled. I've had no problems since except for my rearend blowing up and then my tranny 2,500 miles after the new rear end went in when i didn't even race it. Ya i think it's time for it to go before the motor goes!

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