Lost a spark plug

[travelingaaron]

Originally Posted by thatguitarguy

You don't have to closely examine the threads - just try to screw in a spark plug and see if it tightens.

The helicoil is a good quick fix. Be careful in the future to tighten, but not over tighten anything, especially when screwing into aluminum.

I am guessing it was probably not tightened enough, My spark plug socket was not actually deep enough, I ended up with a half-assed hand tightening since I could only get finger tips on it. We shall see, I am waiting on someone to tow it back here for me so I can look at it.

@metro - Thank you for the input. I will be doing more research about how I plan to tackle this.

@teleman - I am glad they did not put those engines on the P-3 Orions I used to fly on in the Navy lol.

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by travelingaaron

@teleman - I am glad they did not put those engines on the P-3 Orions I used to fly on in the Navy lol.

...yeah, but did you stay airborne for almost 20 hours? I know the P-3's routinely shut-down two of the four engines while on patrol...we often did, too, but not intentionally(ha,ha)!

[travelingaaron]

There are more sophisticated variants that in-flight refuel and stay up for over 24 hours. Ours were typically 16-18 tops. More often than not our engines shut down for unplanned reasons, good thing there were 4, we landed more times than I would like to remember with more than 1 inoperable.

[travelingaaron]

Well I think I got lucky this time. The plug just backed itself out. Threads were still there. My chilton manual did not specify a torque for my engine, only for the 98-00 which I did not notice when I first replaced the plugs. 1 of them was still in ok shape but I think it was because the wire was not properly seated on it. The cylinder that I have no compression on had a lot of carbon build up for only being in there for 2-3 weeks. The third one that was still in the motor was deformed and burnt up.

All new platinum plugs torqued properly. New wired, cap, and button. Car is running as bad as it did the day I got it again .

Now I need to find some valves so I can make the trip up to see metroshultz and rebuild this thing. 3tech does not seem able to get them for me since I have the "unpopular" engine for this line of cars and not the 1.0L or the GT version.

[gone-ot]

...check the factory specification books, as often parts (like valves) are interchangeable with different engines.

...the guys at a reputable "junkyard" might know what parts "fit" into other engines.

[travelingaaron]

Good call. I was trying to get some stainless ones from 3tech. I very well might have to go with something from another engine just to be able to find some.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by travelingaaron

Good call. I was trying to get some stainless ones from 3tech. I very well might have to go with something from another engine just to be able to find some.

Go to Rockauto.com, check if they have a listing for your part. If they do, click the part number listed, and it will give you interchange information.

[travelingaaron]

Great site. That place is 1/4 the price as the only other place I have found them so far.

[wagonman76]

Rockauto is a good place. I've bought from them several times before.

[Gasoline Fumes]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

The 3 cyl engine will fit in the 4-cyl car without messing with the transmission/axles, but it'll sit further to the driver's side than it did in the 3-cyl car, so you may have to mod the motor mounts.

It's going the other way that is more of a problem (4 cyl engine into 3 cyl car).

While the 3-cyl will fit, the two-piece axle from the 4-cyl has no place to bolt to on the 3-cyl block. You could weld the differential and only use one axle for some friction reduction.