spark plug blows out

[minnesota loon]

any chance there is an easy fix? do I have to pull the engine? is there a helio core that can be screwed in? help

[Travis Neff]

You can tap out to a larger thread size and use a steel threaded insert for it. Make sure you put a lot of grease in the tap to catch the shavings.

[SGB]

I've had that happen! You got a lotta miles? Mine blew out in the middle of the Georgia woods. I've got a VW mechanic I know with a lot of type 1 experience- he did mine just using a greasy tap with compresed air blowing in the intake manifold. Ive got this little sleeve that comes out with the plug though. I'll wait until I have the engine down to put in a helicoil

[Shelby/914]

Same thing happened to me about a mile from home. Nursed it the rest of the way. Makes for a real loud low powered 3 cyl. Local 914 guru said that he would attempt to helicoil it with the engine in the car but could not gurantee no metal in the combustion chamber since you can't pull aluminum out with a magnent. We pulled the engine so the head could be removed. a good opportunity to freshen everything up. Paint, shifter bushings,cables. on and on

[The cap'n]

Forget it. 99.9% of the time the head's cracked, and whatever you do is just gonna be a patch job. The Cap'n

[sww914]

If you do try to fix it in the car, don't use a spring looking heli-coil, use the kind that is solid steel with threads on the inside and the outside. I had to fix one in the car at the track after my dad cross-threaded a spark plug for me, he was helping out, you see.
The aluminum chips in the cylinder came out pretty easily with compressed air, and it ran fine. The next time I took it apart, I couldn't see any damage as a result of metal being left behind.

[SGB]

Originally posted by The cap'n
Forget it. 99.9% of the time the head's cracked, and whatever you do is just gonna be a patch job. The Cap'n

I expected the worst, but that was about 3500 miles ago now... maybe 99.8%

[minnesota loon]

where did you get the sleeve? i would like to give it a try

[The cap'n]

Timeserts are the best. K&D makes one you can get at most auto parts stores. Comes in a little kit. Not nearly as nice, but they'll work in a pinch. Be sure to get ones made for a 3/4" reach 14mm spark plug. The Cap'n

[minnesota loon]

thanks cap'n i will give it a try

[Conrad W Peden]

I've got well over 100k on one of the timeserts no problem

[minnesota loon]

I installed the sleeve seems to be working well. thanks toall for your help