**Sparkplug cross threded in cyilnder**

[subaru-mania]

went to pull the spark plug out of the Xt and noticed the sparkplug was on alot more of an angle than the other 3 plugs. So i pulled it out to take a look and the thread in the cylinder is pretty Fu*ked and it wont go back in. I think it could need a re tap.. how do u go about re tapping a new thread without all the metal flake going into the cylinder?

[dumbskate]

is the thread in the rocker cover or deeper in the block i wonder? If it is in the rocker then it can removed and taken to a engineer for re-tapping. If its in the block it could be a bigger headache.

[Guest keltik]

Since when were spark plug threads in the rocker covers?

Youre in the brown stuff i think mate. If the thread is totally rooted i cant think of any way to fix it other than take the head off and do it properly....at which point it would be easier to slam a new head on there

[Koom]

You can get a sparkplug thread re-tapping kit from powerbuilt i.e.from Repco.

There's possibly a method for doing it while the head is still in place but you'd want to be really really really sure that you've gotten all the swarf out of the cylinder.

[pl0x]

couldn't run/flush oil threw the system?

ive got no idea how big the flakes of metal would be compared to gallerys etc

[Guest keltik]

im thinking just crank it over at full throttle and blast any swarf out the plug hole. Not exactly ideal but should work.

[pl0x]

tbh i wouldnt bother trying to DIY it, get quotes from places, surely somewhere is good at it lol??

[Koom]

I would have guessed something like do the re-tapping with that cylinder at TDC. Then once finished either blow it out with compressed air or suck it out with some sort of small hose over the end of a vacuum cleaner hose. Then wind it down to BDC and reapeat to hopefully remove all that is left afterwards. Gonna be a right pain in the ass to make sure its all clear though.

[subaru-mania]

Its on a ea82t so the hole is on the head I was thinking cranking the motor over by hand untill i see the piston covering the hole then re tap and the shaving will fall onto top of piston then suck it up off the piston with a vacuum cleaner or air compressor? do u think this would work?

[subaru-mania]

or just leave it untill i do the head gasket at some point as i wont be driving it for a couple more months.

[Koom]

 subaru-mania said:

or just leave it untill i do the head gasket at some point as i wont be driving it for a couple more months.

If you're pulling heads off in the near future you've got your answer. Going to be a million times better and safer to do with the heads off the block.

[subaru-mania]

 Koom']

[quote name='subaru-mania said:

or just leave it untill i do the head gasket at some point as i wont be driving it for a couple more months.

/quote]

If you're pulling heads off in the near future you've got your answer. Going to be a million times better and safer to do with the heads off the block.

wouldn't be a good look if i started it up with metal flakes in the bore

[Koom]

 subaru-mania']

[quote name='subaru-mania said:

or just leave it untill i do the head gasket at some point as i wont be driving it for a couple more months.

/quote]

If you're pulling heads off in the near future you've got your answer. Going to be a million times better and safer to do with the heads off the block.

wouldn't be a good look if i started it up with metal flakes in the bore

Might make pretty sparks out the exhaust as the filings make there way out though

[subaru-mania]

 Koom']

[quote name='subaru-mania said:

or just leave it untill i do the head gasket at some point as i wont be driving it for a couple more months.

/quote]

If you're pulling heads off in the near future you've got your answer. Going to be a million times better and safer to do with the heads off the block.

wouldn't be a good look if i started it up with metal flakes in the bore

Might make pretty sparks out the exhaust as the filings make there way out though

haha yea it would look cool at nite

[DRFVDR]

yup been here not so long ago with the rx

is it the front one on the passenger side below the alternator

here is how u do it in situ .....

remove every thing above it to give u good access...

I used a Helicoil spark plug kit (Name brand i think better)

retap hole using the helicoil stepped tap making sure it square, I coat the tap in grease so most of the swarf sticks to it (damn i should not give all my tricks away)

Insert the helicoil and break of the wee tag using a long nose pliers(and hopefully it dont fall in cylinder) if it does I use a wee magnet pick up

Blow the cylinder out with a blast of air to get any left over swarf out

crank the car over with no plug in ( also disconnect other plugs as they do run on 3 actually will run on 2)

install everything

and done

I have spare heads here if needed

also a EA82 Carby head is different to a EA82 EFI head(including turbo)

[subaru-mania]

 DRFVDR said:

yup been here not so long ago with the rx

is it the front one on the passenger side below the alternator

here is how u do it in situ .....

remove every thing above it to give u good access...

I used a Helicoil spark plug kit (Name brand i think better)

retap hole using the helicoil stepped tap making sure it square, I coat the tap in grease so most of the swarf sticks to it (damn i should not give all my tricks away)

Insert the helicoil and break of the wee tag using a long nose pliers(and hopefully it dont fall in cylinder) if it does I use a wee magnet pick up

Blow the cylinder out with a blast of air to get any left over swarf out

crank the car over with no plug in ( also disconnect other plugs as they do run on 3 actually will run on 2)

install everything

and done

I have spare heads here if needed

also a EA82 Carby head is different to a EA82 EFI head(including turbo)

Spot on DRFVDR it sure is the plug were alternator is ur way sounds logical ill give it a shot

[Guest]

I use helicoils alot at work for various things, including munted spark plug holes.

Only other bit of advice i can offer is to use plenty of loctite when putting the helicoil in.

[subaru-mania]

do they hold the spark plug in tight? also why not just re-tap if its not to munted if u could clean it up with a tap the same mm as a sparkplug

[Old Skool Subbie]

I would reuse the head you got on the XT. Because you have the gen 3 motor which is the most devolped of all the EA82s. The heads are better and also produce a bit more power and bit more relible.

[driftrex]

 subaru-mania said:

do they hold the spark plug in tight? also why not just re-tap if its not to munted if u could clean it up with a tap the same mm as a sparkplug

you could try clean it up with a tap it may work but it'll never be as good, a properly fitted helicoil should be stronger than the factory thread.

i use them at work sometimes of we get a really bad sump plug thread, especially with alloy sumps.

[Joker]

there is a "Shed" article on it.. they did a lawnmower re-tap with kit, mentioned all ov the above advice... (easier apart/can be don in situ/ swarf/ car and a few options available etc

[subaru-mania]

 JoKer said:

there is a "Shed" article on it.. they did a lawnmower re-tap with kit, mentioned all ov the above advice... (easier apart/can be don in situ/ swarf/ car and a few options available etc

o tru that could be worth a read huh. do u know issue it was in?

[Joker]

will research at Smoko 4 ya

[Joker]

cant find it - assume you've got it sorted by now - basically the article was the same as here : http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/how_to/4212608.html

[subaru-mania]

 JoKer said:

cant find it - assume you've got it sorted by now - basically the article was the same as here : http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/how_to/4212608.html

thanks joker. and to be honest mate i haven't gone near it yet most likely fix it when i pull the motor out in a couple of weeks