Ok so one of my sparkplugs backed out and im in need of some new threads in my socket hole [:@]So far I've heard alot about HeliCoil and what not, i went to advance and saw a Sav-A-Thread which seems close but has inserts to screw the sparkplug into as opposed to springs in the helicoil. My dillema lies here, the sav-a-thread kit says not to use it on Tapered or Sealed gaskets, howeveri found what looks to be the exact same thing on e-bay and one of the first things it says is WORKS ON TAPERED AND SEALED GASKETS!, but it looks identicle to the one at advance. Then again that is ebay but 13xx sales and 99.9% feedback but ebay is ebay, maybe i should just buy from him and sue him when they don't work for false advertising? [8D]

Ok so the point of this post, wondering if anyone else had this problem or knows anyone who did and how they solved it, the end results and how long it held up! thanks guys.

 

One blew out of my '99, while I was driving on the highway. Luckily (or not) there was a Ford dealer at the next exit. I limped it there, got Enterprise to pick me up, and drove home in a dam Hyuandi (so slow). The threads were damaged from the plug rattling in the hole (they were, I looked at it with my own eyes) so they had to install a "Spark Plug Thread Insert" in #8 cylinder. This is a common problem in some Ford Trucks, so they make kits to fix it. It cost $582.00 for the insert and labor, plus they changed all the plugs for another $98.51 (yes I still have the bill). It was pricey, but for a while I thought I was buying a new head. I can fix a lot of things but, tapping the aluminum head on the Cobra sounded a bit dicey, especially since I priced a new head + labor.

Ford sells the Spark Plug Insert Kit, so you could buy it and try yourself, or cough up about $600. Depends how comfortable you feel. It was the only time the Snake cost me, so I was happy to give back to the one that gives so much.

 

I just went through this! You can do this yourself but be careful. I bought the Sav-a -Thread Kit.
1. Clean the area down in the threads. Use a vaccume to make sure its clean.
2. I put a good coat of Crisco on the tip of the tap first to catch the shavings.
3.Carefully tap the new threads with a socket wrench. make sure you go down far enough and straight but don't hit the piston, then back it out slowly because there will be lots of shavings.
4. vaccume the area again to make sure it's clean of shavings.
5.Thread the long helicol sleeve onto your new sparkplug.
6.put a little green loctight on the outer threads of the sleeve
7. Thread the sparkplug(with sleeve) into the head
8. Remove the sparkplug leaving the sleeve in the head.
9. Tap on the newly inserted helicoil sleeve with a hammer and the tapping tool provided for a good fit
10 Re-insert the sparkplug into the head
11. Allowat least a day for theloctight to dry and set properly (very important)
12. Crank the engine and you are done
Total cost of the kit 23.00 e-bay
I drove pretty easy for the first couple of days to make sure I had a good seal. It has now been 3 months and no problems.
Oh as a side note I had a strange misfire going on after this fix. I put on new coil packsthen new o2 sensors and new wires without any luck. Then I gave up and took it to a local mechanic shop who promptly changed all the plugs and found #7 plug had a crack on both sides of the plug. I never thought to look at the other plugs. Cost 225.00 to change the spark plugs Ouch!!!! So... make sure u change ALL the plugs when you do this as well. Just in case
Hope this helps someone

 

225 to change plugs ouch just do it yourself LOL.