tucson

It's a 1989 vette. How should i repair it. The frist 3 theareds are gone, any help please.

c4cruiser

The best way is to pull the head and have a Heli-coil installed. A "thread chaser" may work but if it sounds like there is too much damage for it to work. If you do try that, make sure that the cylinder is completely cleaned out. You don't want any shavings or strips of aluminum getting between the piston and cylinder wall

1963SS

That's the correct answer but there is a chance that a thread chaser (not a tap) will also work even with three threads stripped. Aotozone or some other parts store has them for less than ten dollars. It will be a 14mm x 1.25 pitch. Use a little grease on it when running it in and that will catch most of the filings that want to get into your cylinder.

Use some anti-sieze on the replaced plug so this doesn't happen again. It can do no additional damage and if it doesn't work no harm....no foul. I suspect that it will be OK though. Good luck and only pull the head as a last resort. ---Gunny---

raiderz

This looks promising....in the C4 For Sale section

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...tore-tool.html
**************************************** ************************
http://www.amazon.com/KD-Tools-Inter.../dp/B000J4K01G I had a bad time starting 1 plug and destroyed the first few threads.
This thing saved my life and worked wonders.
Insert into hole, turn thumb screw, and the tap opens up using the good threads inside to start. Cleans everything up.
After using plug went right in. Great for cleaning up rusted threads. Leaves NO shavings in bore.

$50 shipped Will trade for a 1995 auto shift console in excellent cond

tucson

Thanks for the replies. when I pulled the #2 spark plug out I seen there were threads missing. I said O carp, This is not good. I will buy that tool and make it work. thanks

Siveck

The "back tap" saved number 2 on my '89. It rethreads from the inside to out. Great tool to have in the tool box.

Marv02

Always start the plug by hand tighten by hand only until it bottoms out tourqe to spec's.

Use Anti Sieze.

If the plug not going in as normal STOP dont force it dont use Air tools to start any parts alway start it by hand this will save you lots of heart aches.

Now If you were in a NASCAR race doing a tire change air tools is the way to go.

tucson

Tucson here, OK I bought the 6 INCH B-D BACK-TAP AND I got it in the spark plug hole, but when I thread it out it hits the upper A-arm so it don't come out all the way, I know I got a post from Siveck with the same #2 cyl problem can yon tell me the trick.

leesvet

Loosen the motor mounts and jack the block up a couple inches to give you some clearance.

I will 2nd what Marv says.....except I'll add that you should NEVER EVER work on warm aluminum when threading plugs or anything else that you cannot see, and never use a tool to start the threads. Always clean at least your bolt or plugs threads if a chaser is not available. A wire brush of the plug threads can save your life.
Aluminum threads are made of butter when they are warm. Treat them like that and you'll be ok.

tucson

Thanks for the reply. I did get the tool to do the job and it worked great. What I did for the clearance problem was loosened the upper A-ARM two inner bolts half way. The car is running good now. Thanks to all. I Am glad to be on this forum.

JackDidley

Way to go. Beats the hell out of removing the head.

Siveck

I am glad that it worked for you.

Caboboy

Congrats!

Hot Rod Roy

I like to use a 6" piece of rubber tubing on the spark plug insulator to start the plugs. Guide the plug with one hand, and spin it with the other. Especially handy on that darn #8 plug!