Topic Sponsor
1997 - 2003 Ford F150 General discussion on the Ford 1997 - 2003 F150 truck.

2001 4.6L 2 Valve or 3 Valve, helicoil insert.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-09-2018, 02:54 AM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
jethat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: utah
Posts: 417
Received 34 Likes on 30 Posts
Default

Any debris in the vicinity of the plug hole got sucked in and blasted away in the seconds after the plug failure. Me I unplug the injector and drive it home where I timesert the hole. Dont heilicoil, Timesert or ford locknstitch
Old 02-13-2018, 01:15 PM
  #12  
Junior Member
 
Kingsoup's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I used a standard threaded insert for spark plugs and so far great success.
I even made a sweet youtube video if you're interested, total cost was quite low.

Old 02-18-2018, 09:43 AM
  #13  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
2001Screwball's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Update: so I did the job Saturday as planned. Careful to grease the bit and tap, also blew out the cylinder and rotated the crank to drop the piston out of the way. Even counted the threads on the insert. Then somehow lost track of the rotations and when all done, I didn’t want to crank it in any farther than the torque Suggested (28 ft lbs) I had a slight hiss of exhaust I could feel blowing by. So on Sunday I figured I’d try to back it out and pay better attention to the insert getting all the way down. Turns out the head had a bit of a misshaped hole, not quite round, a little oblong defect probably from the blow by shown on the plug. I dunno,

Anyway, I was lucky that’s the insert came out and this time counted the threads and figured/hoped that I could get the insert turned in until the lip at top sealed the blow by hole. I was able to get it down and seated this time and so far so good.

Now I am gonna do a full set of motorcraft plugs at .045” gap (I think that the autolites in it are at .060” per Advance auto computer).

Anyway, thanks for the advice and recommendations. Confidence is a big deal when operation outside your comfort zone and I appreciate y’all elevating mine.

I will try to get a pic up of the oblong plug hole. I might want to dump this truck before it rears it’s head again in cyl 2. But I do have another 7 inserts and the tool in case it happens elsewhere.


Photo demonstrating the off-round hole.

Last edited by 2001Screwball; 02-18-2018 at 09:55 AM. Reason: Added a photo
Old 02-18-2018, 02:38 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
jethat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: utah
Posts: 417
Received 34 Likes on 30 Posts
Default

The timesert tool would fix that problem.
Old 02-18-2018, 02:42 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
white89gt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Utah
Posts: 20,195
Received 6,481 Likes on 4,617 Posts

Default

What kit did you use? I think the Cal-Van kit would fix that as well?
Old 02-18-2018, 06:51 PM
  #16  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
2001Screwball's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by white89gt
What kit did you use? I think the Cal-Van kit would fix that as well?
yes White its the calvan, and I am hoping the lip at top of insert seals the deal. Just a bit worried continued corrosion may occur.
Old 02-18-2018, 07:12 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
white89gt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Utah
Posts: 20,195
Received 6,481 Likes on 4,617 Posts

Default

Was this picture you posted before or after the insert? I'm assuming before? LOL.
Old 02-18-2018, 08:04 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
Jbrew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MI
Posts: 25,233
Received 5,561 Likes on 4,637 Posts

Default

Before ...I hope. Strange looking pick though lol.

The others won't blow, IF they have all been torqued down to 28' lbs. The ONLY reason they blow is because the plugs aren't torqued enough in the first place.

It use to be CalVan was the alternative to Timesert....well, that or lock and stitch if you could afford it. But even the CalVan was pricey at one time. Today there's cheaper little kits you can buy, some are good.
Old 02-18-2018, 10:31 PM
  #19  
Senior Member
 
jethat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: utah
Posts: 417
Received 34 Likes on 30 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Jbrew
Before ...I hope. Strange looking pick though lol.

The others won't blow, IF they have all been torqued down to 28' lbs. The ONLY reason they blow is because the plugs aren't torqued enough in the first place.

It use to be CalVan was the alternative to Timesert....well, that or lock and stitch if you could afford it. But even the CalVan was pricey at one time. Today there's cheaper little kits you can buy, some are good.
I dunno if thats the only way they can come loose. I had my number 7 blow and I know for sure it was torqued to 28 and all. The problem I'm pretty sure was the bolt that holds my coil down was bottoming out and the coil was not secure. I'm 90 percent certain thats what caused mine to blow out.
Old 02-19-2018, 06:07 PM
  #20  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
2001Screwball's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Jbrew
Before ...I hope. Strange looking pick though lol.

The others won't blow, IF they have all been torqued down to 28' lbs. The ONLY reason they blow is because the plugs aren't torqued enough in the first place.

It use to be CalVan was the alternative to Timesert....well, that or lock and stitch if you could afford it. But even the CalVan was pricey at one time. Today there's cheaper little kits you can buy, some are good.
Yes that pic is AFTER I backed out the Cal Van insert. As I said I am assuming the misshaped hole is the result of the blowby shown on the plug in the orig post. And am hoping the lip at the top will seal it. So far so good.

Regarding the Timesert. I am not sure that the Timesert would have been a wide enough bore since its a replacement of a previous insert. But I watched the vid and I can see how it could have been a solution had it been a first attempt insert.


Quick Reply: 2001 4.6L 2 Valve or 3 Valve, helicoil insert.



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:28 PM.