How screwed am I?

[FallenPhoenix]

The same problem plagued the 5.4 Lightning motor up until '01(?)

Maybe if aftermarket heads are ever made for our engines they will address this problem, because you know... boost is your friend

 

[rcilurso]

Ford changed the head casting to help address this. Don't use antisieze and don't over tighten.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

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

No $hit. That's a pretty negative outlook you've got V8SRGRT. It almost seems as though you're looking down on him for wanting to improve on Fords package. I suppose your car is stock right down to the air filter? I used to work for a Ford dealership as well and stripped spark plug threads in aluminum heads are very common. And never have I seen one that was proven the result of any sort of engine modification the vehicle had. In some cases they don't even strip due to over tightening. A lot Canadian cars and Northern United States cars are forced to drive in a little season call winter some times. Well, I don't care how well you take care of your car, it takes no time at all for all of the salt, sludge and other corroded to make anything with a steel/aluminum contact to go south. I’ve even seen them come out in two pieces even with Never-Seize. $hit just happens some times.

That being said, If you can get in there with the tap, I’m pretty sure you should be able to install the helicoil without removing the head onesticker. But by the sounds of it, for the $150.00 you’re going to be charged, the heads not coming off anyway.

 

[HIGDON]

Happened on my F-150...even without overtightening the threads! (although I always use anit-seize)

 

[rcilurso]

My tuner wanted to slap me when he found antiseize in my plug holes. I told him I didn't put it on there, I know you can't on the 4.6, and he was like then how did it get there...magic? My only explination is that the head porter put it in the head but I dunno.

The reason you need it by the way and to comment further on the other reply is bi-metallic corrosion. When dissimiliar metals touch it causes a special kind of corrosion. This is amplified by weather. So you are supposed to put antiseize on there to keep the plug and the head from rusting together. However... for some mysterious reason it causes the polugs to back out and blow out. I'm not sure I know why or if I even care... but when you see it happen time after time you kinda get a light bulb floating over your head thing going.

 

[GinoGT]

No $hit. That's a pretty negative outlook you've got V8SRGRT. It almost seems as though you're looking down on him for wanting to improve on Fords package. I suppose your car is stock right down to the air filter?

Nah, he's going to live on the edge with a shifter and mufflers.

 

[HIGDON]

I use a hobby paint brush and lightly, very lightly, apply a thin coat of AS and wipe down excess, I apply a tiny bit to the shoulder and that's it, can't even tell I use it when you take them out, however I always read my plugs after a night at the strip and it just lubes it a bit to keep me from stripping the threads.

 

[SMRcalidiv]

the same thing happened to me on my car, ford had to fix it because theyre the ones that installed the plugs, they fixed it with a helicoil, ive put about 10k on it since then, no probs.

and to the guy whos being an azz, my car is stock. you remind me of that friends dad that always puts his 2cents in that no one really wanted, and for some reason gets off when something goes wrong for someone else.

 

[MisterCMK]

I had a plug blow out on my 2k expedition as well. I was stuck in North Platte, Nebraska, and had to have a new head put on because for had me by the nuts. grr Anyway, 2500 dollars later, and 5 days later, the truck was fixed. A timersert is the unit that you want to use to fix the plug hole, but I don't exactly remember the difference between that and a helicoil, I just remember that there was some difference. check out ford-trucks.com for more info on the blown out spark plugs. BTW, the truck had 55k miles on it, and I changed the plugs myself, and torqued them down correctly at 50k.

 

[DoubleONegative]

I have anti-seize on all 8 plugs in my Blown 01 Cobra and have had no problems. It had anti-seize before the blower as well and no problems then either

 

[NasaGT]

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

 

[tarch]

I AM GOING TO SC MY BONE STOCK ENGINE TO 19psi! would it blow?

 

[rpayne20]

Hey John......You out there spinning the kiddies up again?????

 

[V8SRGRT]

LOL.....how ya doing Rick???? Yea......Its fun to spin up the kids, they are so easy

 

[ScottM]

Its fun to spin up the kids

So this is what you do for fun? Damn, most people are here to learn, not bash. ...

By the way, I found a link that better explains why this happens, it has nothing to do with his mods, check it out V8SRGT -->link

 

[onesticker]

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.

I actually live in St. Augustine by the World Golf Village but I am mostly in Mandarin at my girlfriends house. I drive all over town so you probably have seen me. I get most of the performance work done at Reinhart Performance in Orange Park.

 

[onesticker]

LOL.....how ya doing Rick???? Yea......Its fun to spin up the kids, they are so easy

You really know how to make friends don't you? By the way, this is a very common problem on aluminum heads (even on a stock engine) so you just might have it happen to you. At least you will know what to do to get it fixed thanks to the "dopey" as you like to say, people on this site.

 

[onesticker]

I AM GOING TO SC MY BONE STOCK ENGINE TO 19psi! would it blow?

Your engine will probably blow if you run more than 9-12lbs of boost. You need to build your bottom end if you're going to run 19lbs.

 

[rpburnette]

This thread is very interesting. I have always heard to use anti-sieze on Al. heads for the plugs. Do a search on this forum on changing sp's and everyone says to use anti-sieze. I use copper plugs (Autolites), and change them every 10,000 miles, my car currently has 54,000 miles, it is a daily driver, and I have never had a problem with the plugs (knock on wood). I torque them down to the correct specs. It sounds like I am lucky. However, I would be hesitant to tell people not to use some kind of anti-sieze, b/c of the different metals, and also, I have heard of people stripping their heads trying to get the spark plugs out, and they didn't use anti-sieze.

Just my opinion.

 

[V8SRGRT]

You really know how to make friends don't you? By the way, this is a very common problem on aluminum heads (even on a stock engine) so you just might have it happen to you. At least you will know what to do to get it fixed thanks to the "dopey" as you like to say, people on this site.

Kid...I was working on cars when you were still in diapers so don't pretend to tell me i wouldn't know what to do about your problem unless i had the advice of wannabe street racers like you on this site. There are many guys and gals here who know alot about stangs but at i am sure they know better than to take a heavily modified engine to ford and expect them to fix something on it under warranty.... I bet they laughed harder than i did.