Spit a plug
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 29
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Spit a plug
Got a 01 super few 5.4 last year had a passenger head gasket oil leak pulled both heads and sent them in and new valves and guides and repaired a hell coil with fords recommended fix from a previous owner and regasketed everything. Truck ran fine until almost a year later and j was driving and spit a plug on passenger side. Tried help coil and spit it right back out. In process of pulling that head only my question is should I get he machine shop to put the ford recommended insert in all plug holes on that head or ? Just looking for input
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,446
Likes: 9
From: NE Iowa JD Country
Yeah Heli-coil, will NOT work in this application. I'm sure that the ford recommended fix is fine or Time-sert has a proven track record, plus if it has been attempted before they offer larger, or super sized fix. Many prefer Time-sert.
If the head is already off & at the machine shop....get a quote for doing all and compare that to getting another used head and reworking that and check what a new head would cost? Getting prices won't cost you, just buying
. But it will help you make a informed decision.
The other thought for new or used is that you can get head that was redesigned in later part of 03' (Like after may 03') and it will have more material for the spark plugs.
Most of the reason for plug ejection was too low of installation torque setting....new recommended rating is 28ft/lbs. But even that wont work if the threads in the head are not good.
Also make sure that if the machine shop does the thread repair that they don't get the repair set too low... meaning, once the head is installed, the spark plug then hits the piston. I'm sure that a respectable machine shop has specs for this and highly aware .
If the head is already off & at the machine shop....get a quote for doing all and compare that to getting another used head and reworking that and check what a new head would cost? Getting prices won't cost you, just buying
. But it will help you make a informed decision. The other thought for new or used is that you can get head that was redesigned in later part of 03' (Like after may 03') and it will have more material for the spark plugs.
Most of the reason for plug ejection was too low of installation torque setting....new recommended rating is 28ft/lbs. But even that wont work if the threads in the head are not good.
Also make sure that if the machine shop does the thread repair that they don't get the repair set too low... meaning, once the head is installed, the spark plug then hits the piston. I'm sure that a respectable machine shop has specs for this and highly aware .
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,278
Likes: 1,658
From: Las Cruces New Mexico
Use this Heli-Coil Sav-A Thread Spark Plug Repair Kit | eBay Heli-Coil Sav-A Thread Spark Plug Repair Kit | eBay
Its worked great in one od the trucks in the fleet with the 5.4.
Its worked great in one od the trucks in the fleet with the 5.4.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,446
Likes: 9
From: NE Iowa JD Country
Use this Heli-Coil Sav-A Thread Spark Plug Repair Kit | eBay Heli-Coil Sav-A Thread Spark Plug Repair Kit | eBay
Its worked great in one od the trucks in the fleet with the 5.4.
Its worked great in one od the trucks in the fleet with the 5.4.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,812
Likes: 88
From: Thousand Oaks, CA
Are you saying the Time-Sert inserts are aluminum?
Time-Sert does indeed make aluminum inserts, but you have to request them.
I just talked to a tech at Time-Sert and their standard insert for the Triton kits is 12L14 carbon steel coated with silver.
They also offer them in 303 stainless steel upon request.
Time-Sert does indeed make aluminum inserts, but you have to request them.
I just talked to a tech at Time-Sert and their standard insert for the Triton kits is 12L14 carbon steel coated with silver.
They also offer them in 303 stainless steel upon request.
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,278
Likes: 1,658
From: Las Cruces New Mexico
That's what one out our local Ford dealers uses, I was under the impression they were aluminum, I like the Heli coil kit it's a well built piece.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,765
Likes: 1,082
From: St Louis
Use this Heli-Coil Sav-A Thread Spark Plug Repair Kit | eBay Heli-Coil Sav-A Thread Spark Plug Repair Kit | eBay
Its worked great in one od the trucks in the fleet with the 5.4.
__________________
Its worked great in one od the trucks in the fleet with the 5.4.
__________________
The standard Timesert inserts (51459) for the Triton engines are STEEL.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,278
Likes: 1,658
From: Las Cruces New Mexico
It's practically the same thing as a Timesert, and actually looks like better design IMO.
Here's a comparison between each other
Save -A-Thread
Heli-Coil R532614L M14 Sav-A-Thread In/Long New | eBay
Notice how it has teeth to bite into the head once you tap it with the supplied tool
Timesert:
Time Sert 12155 M12x1.5x24mm Insert Metric Thread Repair Inserts Carbon Steel | eBay
The only thing holding it is thread locker.
Here's a comparison between each other
Save -A-Thread
Heli-Coil R532614L M14 Sav-A-Thread In/Long New | eBay
Notice how it has teeth to bite into the head once you tap it with the supplied tool
Timesert:
Time Sert 12155 M12x1.5x24mm Insert Metric Thread Repair Inserts Carbon Steel | eBay
The only thing holding it is thread locker.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,812
Likes: 88
From: Thousand Oaks, CA
It's practically the same thing as a Timesert, and actually looks like better design IMO.
Here's a comparison between each other
Save -A-Thread
Heli-Coil R532614L M14 Sav-A-Thread In/Long New | eBay
Notice how it has teeth to bite into the head once you tap it with the supplied tool
Timesert:
Time Sert 12155 M12x1.5x24mm Insert Metric Thread Repair Inserts Carbon Steel | eBay
The only thing holding it is thread locker.
Here's a comparison between each other
Save -A-Thread
Heli-Coil R532614L M14 Sav-A-Thread In/Long New | eBay
Notice how it has teeth to bite into the head once you tap it with the supplied tool
Timesert:
Time Sert 12155 M12x1.5x24mm Insert Metric Thread Repair Inserts Carbon Steel | eBay
The only thing holding it is thread locker.
The inserts have a flange that helps hold the insert in like a bolt when torqued to 20 ft/lbs.
And 3rd the bottom few threads are cold formed into the new threads in the head.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2opNGDKGdkQ
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,765
Likes: 1,082
From: St Louis
Absolutely not. As the previous poster noted, the bottom threads are expanded after installation making it impossible for the insert to blow back out when correctly installed.
The difference is that one is a complete and permanent repair vs. a half-assed one that too often fails again causing greater damage to the head.
The difference is that one is a complete and permanent repair vs. a half-assed one that too often fails again causing greater damage to the head.
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