FDNYBullitt

On another note, be careful about having the piston at TDC when tapping it for the insert. Some brands of tapping kits have different lenght taps and it may hit the top of the piston. Just something to keep your eye on, again, good luck.

72MachOne99GT

Yea, we *my dad and I* have been wonder just how far the tap goes in, and how far exactly the helicoil goes in as well.

Im sure it's all explained in the directions to the actual kit I end up purchasing, but its just one of those pre-work nerves sort of things running crazy....

As to the spark plug/anti sieze thing.

I have used anti sieze on the spark plugs to both of my vehicles, and my dad has been on his for quite some time, and we've never had any issues with backfiring, or damaging the threads before. Honestly, I think that all that thing is, is a sales pitch sort of suggestive prevention telling you to buy autolite spark plugs.

72MachOne99GT

UPDATE
It's amazing how stupid I am.

but....

I took out the rest of the plugs today, and slapped my 18mm socket onto the crank pulley *which has got to be the huge pulley at the bottom center of the block with the 18mm bolt on it right*

So I went to turn it clockwise with the socket set not expecting it to go anywhere, but it did. Relatively easily.

Is that supposed to be that simple? What exactly is a breaker bar and what would it be needed for?

Now, for the stupidity part. Thinking, hey, i can just find near TDC now, i put a small wooden dowel rod down onto the piston, and started turning, well, being retarded i snapped the dowel and paniced thinking I just snapped off a piece of wood in the cylinder, but it came out all in one piece. Again, it amazes me the stupid **** that I do on impulse.


So, what do I use to find TDC? A piece of hose like suggested? and what will keep it from doing the same thing?

4.698GT

Yea you got it on the right pulley. The hose idea would be the best way to find tdc since its flexible and won't break,scratch or damage anything inside the motor.

72MachOne99GT

Why did it flex though and break off that rod?

I just assued that the piston follows a straight path right up the cylinder.. and wouldnt deviate from that course..

If I have this 'tube' or hose in there, what will keep it from pinching and preventing it from coming out once I find TDC?

Too many things that I dont understand.. driving me nuts :-(

4.698GT

Ehh, you could probably just go by eyesight with the piston honestly. Just have someone keep an eye down the sparkplug hole with a light shining in to tell you when to stop.

FDNYBullitt

The dowel broke off because the plug hole does not point straightat the piston, its on an angle. More simply put, the pistons point out at the fenders and the plug goes straight down so this may give you an idea of how the 2 don't meet on a straight line, good luck.

oxfordgt

This is why I said use a piece of vacum line it is flexable.

72MachOne99GT

I didnt have any vaccume line at the time, so I was hoping to make do..

I suppose I'll be going at it before a couple more days. All this waiting and what not is just making me more and more anxious to get the car out.