My '02 F150 blew out the #3 plug yesterday. I removed the coil pack and found the boot torn up and the plug out and beat up. I bought a new plug and boot, and when I tried to put in the new plug it would not start because the threads are buggered. What can I do? Can it be tapped? What size tap do I need?

Thanks for any help.

Will Walker

 

There's a kit you can buy that includes parts for drilling, tapping and installing an insert. Also, you may be able to borrow these tools at your local parts store.

That said, wait for others to chime in with more informed answers - I don't have first hand experience with this procedure.

Doug

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Don't think you can borrow the Timesert kit but you can rent it from a member here. Send a PM to Galaxy. Timesert is a permanent repair. Also, you want to torque your plugs to 28 ft lbs with no antisieze on the threads. Use Motorcraft plugs, they don't require antisieze.

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FWIW, I found this Lisle kit at Oreilly's. At 600 bucks, I wouldn't want to buy it! But presumably it's available as a loaner. That is, the only part of the kit that gets used up is the insert, so I assume those are available separately.

Just out of curiosity, I found this informative video on the procedure (on the Timesert site).


I helped a buddy do his 2003/4.6 recently. He used the Motorcraft plugs as well, and didn't break any off!

Doug

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If they will loan one that's great, and yes I'm sure you would have yo buy the inserts.

Not sure why you mentioned no plugs breaking. Those plugs are not prone to break , it's the two piece plugs in the 3v engines, the 5.4s in the 2004- early 2008, that break.

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Good point. But we were tight-@$$ed nonetheless With all the woeful stories out there, we had our fingers crossed the whole way. I still have my 97/5.4 to do, and I'm hoping it goes well. As I understand it, on that model, there's a risk of having only a few turns of thread in the hole.

Doug

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I don't think that Lisle kit is Timesert. Those are the ONLY inserts that work well except for the custom made inserts from blownoutsparkplug.com, and they don't sell them for self-repair.

 

check the rest of the plugs, because if one in un-torqued properly the others probably are also

 

and the lock-n-stitch inserts are the only way to go

 

Use a chaser first, - worth a shot!

 

Thanks for all the replies. I found a thread chaser today at O'Riley's. I'm going to try that first because my threads are still there, just buggered from the plug bouncing up and down after it came out. If that doesn't work, I'll try the kit.

Also,.....I read somewhere that the torque was 17fp. Is 28 right?

Will Walker

 

28 is recommended to prevent blowout.

Lock N Stitch is the "official" Ford-approved repair, but Timesert may be even better.

 

Thanks everyone, for your help. I tried a thread chaser and it didn't work. I bought the kit, tapped the hole using grease to catch shavings, screwed in the threaded sleeve coated with Loctite, screwed in the plug, and it runs great. I now have the kit for the future.

Will Walker

 

If it's not Timesert or Lock N Stitch, good luck - you will be redoing it with a BigSert......

 

It sounds simular to the timesert so we all hope it works whatever you used.. Good luck!