Been giving a lot of thought to this loose spark plugs launching stuff.
It is disapointing to say the least. I know lots of you guys have been at this subject and have more experience but I want to throw this thought out there and see if collectively we can come up with something.

My first thought was to use some kind of liquid sealer but that isn't practical and the heat factor would probably just ruin things.

So I say's to myself. I say's, Self! mayby you could make some kind of indexing tool.

Just for a start, I was thinking how if I took a 5/8 deep socket and cut off enough of the end so it would grip the hex shoulder.
Then weld a little arm or long sheet metal tab to the top or side of it. Then have that come up and lay over the hole that the coil retaining screw goes into.

So the deal is that you put in the new spark plug and tighten it down. Then you slip this retainer down over it and it is held in place by the coil screw. There would have to be enough room for the boot and coil pack to go on.

Maybe it would be better to just leave it sticking up so if the spark plug rotated you could tell just by looking.

Maybe the whole thing could be made of plastic or sheet metal.

One thing we know for sure is that it has to be quick, easy and reliable.

What do you think?

Ford sure isn't going to do it for us and if they did they would be admiting they had a problem.

Let's just get some thoughts down and expand on them. It may be a dumb idea but a good one has to start someplace. I would much rather take the time to do this than pull a otherwise perfectly good head off.
Greg

 

that actually sounds like a good idea, lets see if anyone replies with a reason it won't work.

 

it would work to keep the plugs from turning, but the coils seal around the plug holes to keep the holes water resistant so if u modify the coil packs to allow the retainers to exit the plug hole, water and dirt and etc. could enter and cause other headaches...

jim

 

Good point detroit!
So let's find a solution for that.
If this protrusion was small like the size of a 1/8 welding rod and went up the side and you could bend it over would that interfear?

Maybe it would have to be disposable and a one time use thing.

It is my understanding that the plug gets loose and rattles around for a while, slowly unscrewing until there is not enough thread to hold it and it is launch time. Correct?

How about something like a coil spring that would fit tight against the outside of the hole and the end would curl smaller against the plug hex. Kinda like a interference fit that would be below the coil pack?

I would prefer it stuck out of the hole so you could keep an eye on it and eliminate the need to check them.

I know these plugs are capable of 75,000 miles on the stock supercharged engine. Some of us don't need to fiddle with them all the time.

I expect a performance engine to require more Maintenance but I just don't want a surprise launch in the middle of nowhere.
Greg

 

but it would not work...

Here's why. Ever try to get a wrench on the head of the bolt but cant because the wrench an the bolt don't line up???? If you haven't , try installing a pair of headers on your truck.....but anyhow

Same issue here. You the plug in and go to put thi retainer on.....but the hole in the retainer doesn't line up wiht the hole in the coilpack mount....so you would either have to loosen the plug a little.....not good..........or over tighten the plug.....still not good.

Comming up with rigging to hold the plugs in is ****** insane.......we shouldn't have to even deal with this crap. But it's here and not going anywhere. If you wan't it fixed, get a set of new heads with the added threads, or have a machine shop put inserts into the heads.

 

I agree that it is insane that we have to deal with this stuff but that is denile.

How about Herbs CLUNK washers. We shouldn't have to deal with that ether but someone out there with the tools and talent came up with a fix.

You can be negative about every post on the board but like I said there are some great minds here. I am just planting a seed.

Maybe these tuners that have all this cool stuff for our trucks would get a idea and produce something if they new we would buy it. I don't want some rinky dink junk on my engine but if it saves me time and money I will do it.

I love this forum and I do thank you for making your point. I doubt it would line up perfectly every time but if it had enough flex to bend over or just stay behind the tab would be good enough.

I like the idea of a plastic like the stuff the old fashion distributer caps and roters were made of.

Water the seed. water, water, water
Thanks
Greg

 

I have been thinking the same thing about engineering some sort of plug locking device. Its a good idea. (Flame away)

I am no where near my L, and up untill now havent given it much thought. But i was thinking some type of rod or plate that would be more like a rail to lock all the plugs togther.Of course not having looked at it there is probably all kind of stuff in the way.

If not, how about a bar, with a ratcheting wrench type insert, that could be locked in and slid over the plugs, then install the coil packs.

MJ

 

I don't believe the plugs are backing out, they're shearing the threads out of the head. IMHO, the only solution is to strengthen the existing threads (one way is with Heli-coil type inserts), or replace the heads with ones that have more threads.

 

If they were just blowing out it wouldn't be logical that there are so many posts about hearing them leak and tightening them in time or all those that are just doing periodic checks and finding one or more loose and tightening them.

The big warning seems to be to check them. I haven't done any mods to my truck I checked my plugs with 23k miles and they color looks great. I figure they will last many thousands of miles the way I drive.

The idea of a common rail might work on 1,2,3,4 but 5.6.7.8 are just barried in a web. If you look from the front below the T/B it does look like like a some what clear shot.

I just went out and starred at it again, it is discouraging but Henery Ford never gave up or Thomas Edison.

Common you guys. don't be shy, if you have a thought throw it out here. It might trigger someone else's or be the perfect solution.

How about some kind of lock washer on the base. I noticed there is nothing there and there is a star shaped impression or dimples from the factory.

I wonder if you could take a dremal tool and cut some little angled slots on the bottom of the plug base so it would bite in one direction?

What did they do for more threads on the new style heads? Just not bore the hole as deep from the top?

watering the seed, water,water, water sure are lots of weeds in the garden.

Come on with the negative reasons, maybe we can twist it around.

Maybe there is a brain surgeon amoung use who has a little divice to hold the battery posts on the inside of Frandkensteins head.
Greg

 

i got nothin yet but atleast u got me thinkin. give me some time and i will see what i can think up. This is what this website is for!!! not he said she said bs. More power to ya. Somebody has the answer. its only a matter of time.

Vinny

 

 

Just weld the spark plug in.

 

Wish we could get a clamping device built into the heads :P
or if you do that why not just get new heads with more threads.