Performance Repair near Murfreesboro TN - Blown Out Plug

[Brian01GT]

Driving home from work last night I had a spark plug blow out on my stock 2001 GT. Apparantly this is not uncommon after researching this forum.

Now I have to decide what to do next - have the head replaced for about $2,000 or try to have the damaged threads in the head repaired.

I have read other threads about success using the time-sert repair, however I do not have the experience to be comfortable doing this myself.

I am looking for advice on a repair or performance shop near Murfreesboro Tennessee that may be familiar with making this type of repair.

Any references would be appreciated.

Brian

 

[WallyKilla]

If you are going to spend 2k to replace the heads. Get some nice after market heads!

 

[ninjastang125]

2k for heads are Trick Flow numbers. Stock p.i. heads can be picked up fairly cheap.

 

[fiveoho]

Driving home from work last night I had a spark plug blow out on my stock 2001 GT. Apparantly this is not uncommon after researching this forum.

Now I have to decide what to do next - have the head replaced for about $2,000 or try to have the damaged threads in the head repaired.

I have read other threads about success using the time-sert repair, however I do not have the experience to be comfortable doing this myself.

I am looking for advice on a repair or performance shop near Murfreesboro Tennessee that may be familiar with making this type of repair.

Any references would be appreciated.

Brian

i just picked up a 2000 GT a few months ago and i have the constant fear this could happen to me. as you mentioned, this seems fairly common. is my car a windsor or a romeo? whats yours? is one or the other more common for this problem?

were you just driving normal when this happened? your car boosted?

i live about 45 min from the 'boro. i hear good things about Mikes speed shop(murfreesboro). i think its somewhat close to Hooters. we have a machine shop here in mcminnville, Precision auto machine (Precision Auto Machine - High Performance Auto Parts and Crate Engines). pretty much everyone here in town uses them and seems to have good results

edit: re-read your post. stock GT. my bad.

 

[Brian01GT]

Thanks for the input on local shops.

I was just driving normally in town - actually on my way to the dentist.

There was a warning sign I missed, though. That morning I thought I heard a 'ticking' sound, almost like an exhaust leak, but I needed to get to work and didn't think much of it. After reading about the problem, this is a sign that a plug is getting loose and allowing some blow-by.

I don't know if mine is a Windsor or a Romeo. The car isn't here right now, so I can't check.

From my research, no one has ever tried to connect it with one or the other.

I'll give Mike's a call to see if they can help.

Brian

 

[fiveoho]

let us know what you find out. as for the ticking that you heard: how noticeable was it?

 

[joshjwc9]

When mine went, it sounded like a ticking or exhaust leak. This is exhaust gases shooting through the plug holes and compression blowing off. Mine ticked for roughly a week before it let go. All years up to the '04 ones tend to have blowout issues.

The Windsors were put in years '99 and '00 and some '01's. I had to have my head replaced. I paid $1400 with other small repairs including the price of a reman head.

 

[fiveoho]

any news brian?

 

[Brian01GT]

Fixed it myself

I decided to buy a kit to fix this myself. I didn't want to use a helicoil as I've heard many have had these simply blow out again.

I bought a Calvan 38900 insert kit (see link below). I liked the size of the insert and had not heard of anyone having a problem after using it.

CalVan Tools Ford Spark Plug Insert Installer CAL 38900

It took me about 3 hours to complete the repair. I really took my time, and also had to remove the fuel rail to get a straight shot into the cylinder to drill and then tap the hole, but I left the head on the engine. I used an air compressor and flexible hose to blow out all the shavings in the cylinder.

I just finished this Friday, but I drove the car today without any problems. I expect it will hold up.

The kit cost less than $300.

Brian

 

[rockyracoon]

just wondering if it was possible to get out all the shavings.wouldnt some of that junk still be sitting on top of the piston?

I would at least try and get a little telescopic magnet in there,and be real careful that it doesnt break off,maybe wrap some electrical tape around the telescoping part so that if it does break it will still stay together.

did you have the piston at TDC ? you could also try a strong shop vac and adapt a length of steel brake line to the suction side then lower that in there. just my o2c

oh disregard I didnt notice that you have already driven the car. so everything seems ok huh ? thats good news.

 

[Brian01GT]

Good Points.

I did have the engine below TDC, but made sure both valves were closed.

The kit comes with an adapter to pressurize the cylinder from an air source - when you don't hear any flow (and the adapter pops out - kind of like a wine stopper) you know you're there.

I removed the shavings two ways. As you suggested, I connected a cheap 1/2" tube to a shop vac to vacuum out as much as I could, then connected an 1/8" hose (smaller to give the shavings somewhere to go) and blew out anything else. A magnet wouldn't work since the head is aluminum.

I've driven the car for a few days now with no issues.

Brian

 

[fiveoho]

brian-

ive just developed a tick on my car as of yesterday. since we were fooling around with the xpipe and down tubes, im blaming one of those. only thing thats bothering me is that i cant find a exhaust leak. the tick is coming from underneath the car and is pretty noticeable but i cant really hear it when i opened the hood.

check out my thread and see if you think this could be spark plug related.

http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/808755-manual-transmission-ticking-noise.html


thanks