mikehorn

My mechanic put in a heli coil and then it smashed the end of the plug. I added a washer to raise the plug it lasted for a couple months. Know it spit the plug and heli coil. He tried a longer heli coil when he tighten the plug in he said he heard a crack and the heli coil broke out. He told me I need a new engine is this true?

iFord

Wha' year? A new engine because of one spark plug?!?!? Don't call him your mechanic any more.

JCR 56

Heli coils don't work. You need to use timesert or bigsert if it's been tapped twice. timeserts are a permanent fix and can be done without removing the head. In your case, if part of the heli coil broke and fell into the cylinder, the head would have to come off to retrieve it, but if it just stripped your good. Ford uses lock-n-stitch which is also a permanent repair.

mikehorn

It is a 97. The timecert broke loose and turned down into the cylinder.