So a friend was helping me with the removal of my spark plugs on my 06 F150 5.4L. First one we do its a bitch to get off. After its out the threads on the plug were just terrible. Looked like they are cross threaded or something. I guess the person who changed them previously didnt get them in right and striped the threads. Then we thought we would try another one....same problem. Ended up just putting the old one back in and figured I better take it to a shop now. Is the head up now or does it just need to be re-threaded?

 

If the the threads are cross threaded, I would look into Timeserting it.

 

How do you bugger the threads on a 3v?

 

Good question glc..maybe they used an impact to reinstall them the first time.

 

Thats what I was thinking. Its like they didnt hand tighten them first. Plus no anti-seize was used.

 

You don't use antiseize on the threads, but you sure need to use it on the shanks.

 

First thing is when changing plugs on an aluminum head always do it cold engine or you'll take the head threads out with the plug. Also the 5.4L has only 3 or 4 threads in the head ( another brilliant idea from Ford engineers) and they can work themselves loose by themselves which sometimes causes thread damage. This can be repair with a helicoil. If you can't do it yourself there are specialty shops like The Drill Doctor who can do it.

Regards Guage

 

Just took it to a shop where a friend works. They said they will just fix the one I took out and then leave the rest of the plugs alone until they act up and need changed. Big pain and could costs thousands if they did them all and something went wrong

 

You are talking about the 2V engine. The 3V engine is a whole different animal.

Helicoils do NOT work long term - Timesert is the only repair that you can do yourself that will last.