Broken spark plug

[LeeC]

So I snapped a spark plug off on my '93. I've done everything I can think of to get it out, including a 3' breaker bar on a 3/4" screw extractor. My thought now is a new head. No one around here wants to work on it, the best offer I've had is to poke at it for $70 an hour with no guarantees, the worst offer was to replace the engine for $3495. I was warned about putting a new head on a 166k engine, apparently the new compression will make it blow oil past the rings. This was from the replacement engine guy. I don't believe it but thought I'd ask. Also what's the worst part of replacing this head? My car is rust free and runs super (well it did), I don't want to scrap it but I can't spend a whole lot of $$ on it either!
Thanks, Lee.

[bravekozak]

You should read some of my threads!
You may need a gasket.


First, heat up whats left of the plug and try again.

You don't need to replace the engine.
Worst case. you may have to remove the cylinder head to have it extracted.
But for the eBay price, I wouldn't bother paying the extraction price.
Just bolt on a new cylinder head, if it still won't come out with a torch.
Just not too hot so the aluminum melts!

Aloha.

[jimdigs]

http://www.tigraionline.com/broken_sparkplug.html

[scitzz]

Put your location on your profile so if someone is near to help, they will know they are near to help! Welcome to the forum, and good luck!

Me, I would add a little smoke wrench and some more leverage

[tooldude]

How can a screw extractor not slip or even break off with that much leverage, or just pull the aluminum threads out? (it happens). Was that extractor possibly digging into the head? If you haven't gotten anything into the cylinder yet, you could check the compression to judge against a possibly better-sealing head.

[crazyrog17]

I would replace the head with one from the junkyard. Don't forget that aspire cylinder heads fit and have roller rockers following the cam for a little, tiny bit more efficiency. Easiest just to swap the stock manifolds on

[LeeC]

Thanks guys, I'm gonna try heat, if that doesn't work it goes into the river!

[zoom zoom]

3495?!?!? Lol I'll sell and swap the engine out of my aspire for 3450 even no taxes! Lol just kidding(not really I would)

For the price of a new (or junk yard) head you really don't need or want a new engine. The engine swap guy that gave you the line about the pressure blowing oil past the rings is just trying to sell you something. I would recommend not talking to a dishonest person like that again.

I'm sure you can find a new head around here or in a JY for $50+shipping, or you could buy the new oem ebay one, but either way you need to get it planed and have a 3 way valve job done before installing it. Do not ever put a 4cyl head on without having it planed, even if it's "known good used..."

Hopefully a little heat will loosen that plug tho, that's a good suggestion to start with! Good luck! Please add your location to your profile when you get a minute!

[bravekozak]

Lee, did you follow my blue link? Lay a machinist's straight edge on the new cylinder head. If it's dead straight, bolt her on.

[LeeC]

OK I got it out. htd Finally. Turns out that there was a galvanic reaction and/or rust that had frozen the body of the plug to the cylinder head. If I had a long enough lever I could have flipped the car with it before it would ever come out. Or pull the threads out. Unreal. I had to drill the body of the plug out (very carefully) with a 5/8" bit until I got to the threads and chisel that part out. After that a couple of spurts of PB and a screw extractor and it came out. I took a lot of precautions to keep debris from falling in the hole and rigged up a hose on the Shop-Vac and stuck it in there because I figured it couldn't hurt. So far so good. Thanks for the help, Lee.

[crazyrog17]

Good to hear! Too often we get 'HELP!' threads with no resolution, so thanks

[bravekozak]

Congratulations! I am glad you were successful. It's good to check the condition of your spark plugs frequently.

[TominMO]

Wow, very cool. Thanks for the follow-up.

[scitzz]

Rock and roll! Thanks also for the follow up!