Blew a plug

[myponyrocks]

Long story short I've had loads of exhaust leaks, this sounded like the headers leaking on the drivers side head. Today I accelerated and BOOM! Then it sounded like I'd shred a belt.

No check engine lights car running fine...

Pop hood and one of the coil pack tubes is blowing around. Remove the coil and the spark plug is just sitting free in it's hole. Threads are perfectly fine, engines too hot right now so I haven't tried screwing the spark plug back in yet, but it doesn't sound like there's anything in the motor.

What all should I check for? Is it possible the plug just unscrewed over time? There's no metal shavings or anything. Obviously if it is a blown plug I'll check one of the multiple repair threads.

*EDIT*
Well the distributer for Time-Sert came by today, we had to guess at the sizes since they don't make the Ford 5553 whatever kit here. Any way I'm hoping I got the right inserts M14 .125 tapered?

We'll do the one and hope it works out, if it does and it's simple we're going to do all 8. Is that advisable? Does the 13# torque setting on installing the plugs change once the inserts are in place?

Any tips or tricks not covered on the Time-Sert website? It shows a Triton install procedure for the kit every one said to use on here . The dealer here said not to use loctite, but the time-sert kits and info US side says to?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Damn man that stinks! Were you using anti-seize?

 

[myponyrocks]

Damn man that stinks! Were you using anti-seize?

I always do, but I know the last time I did my plugs I was running out and probably skimped on it, and I do work from pass to drivers side front to rear and this is the 2nd from the rear drivers side one.

 

[myponyrocks]

Ok, so the blocks cool. I went down and it feels like it screws right in. Having a friend stop by later with some anti-seize and a gap tool for a temp fix and a new plug should be sourced by tomorrow.

I still had to buy a new coil since the current boot is shredded. That'll take a few days but I'm guessing I could baby it.

The wierd thing is the engine doesn't sound odd running on 7 plugs and the check engine light doesn't come on. Should it limp or something?

 

[Night Shifter]

when i had a plug blowout mine did the same thing...no shavings, nothing in the motor, and my threads were fine...bought a new cop and plugs and the new on screwed in like nothing had ever happened..

i hope you are this lucky as well

 

[myponyrocks]

i hope you are this lucky as well

Me too. I mean I'm kinda lucky because I'm the godparent of a child whos father is a mechanic here in the UK so maybe a heli-coil won't be unbearably expensive, but I'd rather not have to go that route.

 

[myponyrocks]

It's official... heli-coil time

 

[san~man]

It's official... heli-coil time

heli coil is not the recommended fix, time-sert is.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Do NOT use heli-coil!

 

[N8Dogg98]

Wow man, that blows... hope you get it fixed soon. Perhaps a good time to upgrade to a set of ported heads!

 

[myponyrocks]

we're getting timeserts or whatever they are called. Apparantly they are manufactured here in the UK? I dunno.

I'm just trying to decide now if I should do all 4 on that head or just the one.

 

[myponyrocks]

Wow man, that blows... hope you get it fixed soon. Perhaps a good time to upgrade to a set of ported heads!

Well if crap stops breaking I was planning on upgrading to a 2011 GT or GT500, I hadn't decided what to do with this car though yet. If it keeps having issues I won't feel good about selling it to some one else.

Ultimate goal is a 1/4 car a road course car and a DD, the idea was the next Stang would be the RC car but this one might be getting scrapped into a beer can if things don't start going right.

 

[myponyrocks]

Well the distributer for Time-Sert came by today, we had to guess at the sizes since they don't make the Ford 5553 whatever kit here. Any way I'm hoping I got the right inserts M14 .125 tapered?

We'll do the one and hope it works out, if it does and it's simple we're going to do all 8. Is that advisable? Does the 13# torque setting on installing the plugs change once the inserts are in place?

Any tips or tricks not covered on the Time-Sert website? It shows a Triton install procedure for the kit every one said to use on here . The dealer here said not to use loctite, but the time-sert kits and info US side says to?

Thanks... hopefully this is the last time something breaks on the car while I'm in the UK. It's a real pain in the butt to get parts even though the 4.6 was in a Brit spec car (Rover I think) for a few years.

 

[mineralgraygt]

you shold not use anti seize on them. just torque them to spec.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

No one can definitively say whether anti-seize should be used or not. However this thread seems to be another data point for NOT using it.

 

[myponyrocks]

Edited the OP with the questions I'd really like answers for. Thanks for the help so far

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I have heard of people doing all 8 just to be sure it does not happen again. I think on Modular Fords there are some people and threads that can provide more tech detail on the subject, might create a thread or do a search over there as well. Nothing against StangNet I love the place but for highly technical questions using SN and MF can produce better results than just SN.

 

[myponyrocks]

KT, I'll give it another day here and then I might make an account there. I searched (via google) both site for as much info as I could. I'd just like to make sure I at least got the right parts. It's one downside of living here in the UK when it comes to short notice repairs. I love this place, and a Stang being looked at like a Lambo is in the US is awesome, but I don't want to be off the road too long.