Well about a month ago I put in some new denso's a 6lb and a programmer. Whole install was easy followed directions on the forums to prevent anything from going wrong. Things were going sweet and the truck was hallin a**. On Friday I noticed this ticking noise that was pretty soft and hard to hear and didn't think much of it and decided I would check it out back in out shop come monday. Well today as I'm getting off the freeway decelerating at probably 40mph BAMM! BAM!BAM!BAM!BAM!BAM!

F%$^!!!! Imediatly I knew sparkplug just shot out of the head!!! I don't have warranty so I'm going to try to stay as far away from the ford dealership as I can. Nor do I have the money for a new head right now so looks like it's the time insert for me. I *******ed up the plug install so I'm going to try to find somewhere that can do this professionally for me. I live in the east bay area...any suggestions as to what I should do/ what shops will do it/ anything!

Add me to the list...

Also forgot to mention......it was the third back plug on drivers side.

 

I got this email a few days ago, I never signed up....


FYI, these e-mails go to a list of several hundred Ford owners that we have identified as having had spark plug blowouts. Here is the situation:
1. NHTSA declined to open an investigation into the spark plug blowout problem. It does not affect the lawsuits, but it eliminates NHTSA as a means for getting paid for the repairs.

2. California owners are covered by the lawsuit pending there. Everyone else is covered by the lawsuit in St. Louis federal court. BUT, it is likely that that case will be dismissed and non-Californians will not be covered unless a new class action is filed in federal court elsewhere or other non-Californians join that suit by name.

SO, it would be prudent, if you wish to be compensated for the cost of your repairs, to:
1. File a suit (small claims?) yourself; or,

2. Join in, by name, in one of the existing cases or a new case.

If you wish further information, e-mail me with a telephone number and the best time of day to reach you and I will call.
Don

D O N A L D W . R I C K E T T S
Attorney at Law
28855 Kenroy Ave.
Santa Clarita, CA 91387-1721
Phone (661) 250-3091
Fax: (661) 250-1767
E-Mail: scfarms@socal.rr.com

 

HI!... Just buy a big sert kit and do it with the head on the engine. That's what I did on my old 5.4. Took about 45 minutes to do to to taping only a few thread, pulling out the tap cleaning off the wheel bearing grease/aluminum chips and do it again. Make sure you fill the tap's flutes up with grease. This will catch 95% of the aluminum chips from entering the engine. Also make sure that pistin is up to TDC. Then when I was done I taped a plastic turkey baster spout to my shop vac with some vacuum hose on the end and sucked out any remaining chip from on top of the TDC piston. Piece of cake and I had a 10 threaded insert.

http://www.timesert.com/html/bigsert.html

http://www.timesert.com/html/Triton-repair.pdf
'

 

I did a timecert about a year and a half ago without removing the head, well I didn't do it, a friend did. Anyway, it's been problem free since then.

 

Thanks I'm still a little tentative about doing this myself...how much would/should a shop charge to do this?



Here is a picture of what the plug now looks like:



And another:

 

That plug loooks good. Just regap it and hammer it in.
Seriously, Get the TimeSert kit and do it yourself.

 

Wow really I thought that plug was toast...I remember being told to be extremely careful gapping the plug so I wouldn't break it, I didn't think it could with stand being bent completely around the electrode and pulled back, hammered, gapped.

 

Yes the plug is still usefull. Being bent around the electrode doesn't mean poor electrical conduction after rebending. Actually the plug may fire better because it now knows better than to leave the head without permission. Ensure you use a big hammer to reinstall. Best regards, Shorty.

 

That big-sert install looks like a piece of cake...with the heads off. But with the heads on how much harder is it. Doing the install with the heads on seems like a pain considering its hard enough just to change the plugs let alone get a drill in there, then drill and tap a hole then screw the insert in? Opinions...

Thanks guys

 

What size certs are you guys using (metric/standard) or do is it vary from damaged caused by blown plug ? thanx!

 

LOL.. Oh I love that kind of humor!

But than again I understand CoCoCountyLbolt's position. Sorry..

Follow Neals advise on his one. It's really not that hard. You might want to remove the EGR stuff that'll be in the way..

Rich

 

Isn't another option to just put in a helicoil? That way I would just have a shop do it for my real quick and not have to wait to have the time-sert kit shipped to me, I NEED my truck back.

 

Also will I absolutly need a new coil pack? Even though it got a little jacked up on top from slamming into the fuel rail and the plastic broke on the little piece that the coil pack bolt holds down does that really matter?

 

It's actually pretty easy if you take your time. If you have not done it already, it may be a good time to clean the IC and which will also give you lots of room for the insert install. And you don't need power tools for the install. Everything comes with the kit. If you go this route ensure a few things:
-Piston is not TDC. I used a straightened coat hanger to check.
-Use a shop vac to clean out any metal debris. A vac with vaccum lines taped works great and you can shove it down the plug holes.
-Use lithium grease in the flutes of the install tool to catch metal shavings as you ream the hole.

Helicoils are an alternate route to go but I have no experience with them only the TimeSert. Also if you get the TimeSert kit you may have to reuse it if you blow another plug. Just order some spare inserts. AutoZone and most parts stores carry coil packs for about $50. The dealer wants about double that. Recommend changing the broken one. It's good insurance.

 

Just got back from Lafayette Motorsports right down the street from me and the man that that owns the place, Denny lent me all the tools I need to the time-sert install He said he NEVER lends tools out to people but because I'm one of my autoshop teachers good students he would. I'm going to try to get my truck towed to our schools auto shop some time today or tomorrow so I can get this taken care of.

Here is what he gave me:



Any last tips before I try to do this...I would do a little how to post for you guys if everything goes to plan but it might be kind of a waste with the heads on because you can't see anything.