hey whats up everyone,

so, my #1 cylinder spark plug thread has really [freak]ed up,

and i'm not sure on what to do,
my options are...

-let a engines shop fix my thread with a helicoil with the head on the car, but the shop owner says he cant gurantee that he can get all the aluminum flakes from the cylinder after the job will be done. ($50 job)

-second option is to replace the head, (head $50 new cometic gasket $90)


engine is a D16z9
stock head
75.50 vitaras
eagle rods,

what do you guys think?

ps.
why am i keep hearing that cometic head gaskets are resueable?

 

if it were me i would get a new head and buy a oem gasket thats just me thow.

 

yeah stock head id say go for it man, if it was ported id be a little iffy.
Guaranteed fix. d16 head swaps r fast anyways

 

napa sells a tap and sleeve kit for spark plug cylinders. I had to do it to my b16 head.

 

Unfortunately, I suggest you just get a new head rather than [freak] with a helicoil and all that, I wouldn't be surprised if a helicoil wouldn't hold up to the cylinder pressures that you are experiencing anyway.

Sorry man, probably wasn't what you wanted to hear.

 

id helicoil it. if you look at the early second gen ford lightnings i can gaurantee most of them have a few helicoiled spark plug threads and they seem to hold up fine on them

plus if it doesnt hold up, it was only a few bucks

 

just get a new head then port/polish and throw a cam in it

 

ford heads and gm 3.1 and 3.4 heads strip out all the time...just go to any big tool maker (snapon,mac,cornwell) and search ford spark plug....Ive even fixed one on a prelude once. But it isnt a job to half ***, you gotta take your time. The only thing I warn you is that you better put a good spark plug in there cause you are not going to want to take it out anytime soon. Helacoil it now, and save up for a better motor

 

no head gaskets are reuseable.

you should use a spark plug thread repair kit. far superior to a helicoil. its a complete insert.

the new head sounds cheaper and easier.

oh yeah, use anti-seize from now on.