Stripped thread inside the head

Site Subscriber Joined: 25 Nov 2004 Posts: 350

looking at buying another car...but it seems whoever put the sparkplug in cross-threaded it or similar..and over time the pressure has finally managed to blow it OUT. so the thread on the head is smooth as a snooker ball.

the guy who owns it was going to rectify the issue with a 'helicoil'. would that be a good thing to do or would it be better in the long-term to take it somewhere to get the it re-thread professionally?

cheers

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

nothing else you can do in that situation other than fit a helicoil. Not ideal, but it works.

If someone has managed to cross thread the spark plug hole, it doesnt say much for their ability to maintain the rest of the engine/car does it.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Depends really tho, if you remember it happened to zed's 172 off RSC and that was down to the garage.

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

Well that's what you get for taking your car to a garage. People always assume a garage will do things properly.

how did that get fixed?

If that was me, id demand a brand new head.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Im 99% sure it was heli coiled

Level 6 User Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 166

gotta be carefull no shite falls in to the head when you do it

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Yeah thats the trouble these days is finding somone you know is going to the job properly and not just bodge it .

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

only person you can trust to do the job right is yourself or at a push a good mate.

If you think the average mechanic at the local garage gives a shit about either you or your car other than getting the thing driving out of the workshop, you're very naive.

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Posts: 395

I don't think you would be able to put a helicoil in without taking the head off. To install the coil properly you need to drill out then run a special tap into it so getting crap in the head is unavoidable tbh.

Unless there's any special techniques i don't know about?

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

no youre right, the swarf would fall inside the chamber, not to mention that fact you would need a damn long tap to get down there from above.

Still, whats a bit of swarf, im sure it would be fine Rolling Eyes

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

most places do it with the head still on the car in 15 mins, stick a hoover down the plug well for the swarf.

Tis shockign really is.

Heli coils are perfectly acceptable if done properly.

Zeds was head on helicoiled.

Site Subscriber Joined: 25 Nov 2004 Posts: 350

my mechanics tutor said he can use an insert which is similar to the helicoil but apparantly better. only toruble with this is to get it to college it would need to be on a trailer. therefore i will not be able to hear it running before i get this done to it. either that...or i hear it running on 3 cylinders

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Sod that, we could tow that to cardigan in an evening...

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

what car is it?

Site Subscriber Joined: 25 Nov 2004 Posts: 350

huwwatkins wrote:

Sod that, we could tow that to cardigan in an evening...

fact remains i still would not have heard it running Sad

tis a Mazda 323 LXi 1.3 16v, Chris

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

right that'll be runnign a dizzy, you could just earth the ht lead and dissconnect ithat cyl's fuel injector. That way it will run but it won't flag any faults.

Best hearing it run. It won;t be smooth but it will let you know if its totalled.

Also with them dissconnected it will drive.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Personally I reckon the the 19 is the better car Wink

Site Subscriber Joined: 25 Nov 2004 Posts: 350

i feel like a kid in a sweetshop right now. got a nice 19, yet i really regret selling my last mazda 323..and this one is EFI'd and not carb'd.

might be down to my driving skills/technique, but both me and my mate were had by a 1.1 Pug 205. Ultimate in shame for the both of us. Me in my 19 and him in his 1.3 polo.

PS i do not condone racing of any kind Rolling Eyes

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

you were had by a 1.1? Were you doing 40 in 5th or what? Should have had it EASY! Could run both Wink

Then again you keapt banging on about getting a 19 when you had your mazda and now you've got one you want another mazda! worse than a woman!

Site Subscriber Joined: 25 Nov 2004 Posts: 350

dont get me started on your exploits mr.watkins Laughing

the situation was strange in that i had my mates 1.3 polo no problem...yet this 1.1 out did both of us...it did rev up to the heavens though to be fair! swore blind it wasnt a 1.1 but did a bit of research on t'internet and it is infact a 1.1.

oh well, some you win some you lose Laughing

additional..i think i only had R19 on the brain is from hanging around with you...bad influence, man! Wink

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Bad influence? Fuck off Razz

Nothing wrong with my exploits, at least im staying true to the cause Wink

Ah well, cant help being a naff driver eh ? Razz

You had a 19 on the brain becuase you like the speed!