Something INSIDE passenger cam cover...

[Ourobos]

Initially I had thought I'd gotten some watery gas, car sounded louder and down on power SLIGHTLY. No engine lights or anything. Today I physically hear something bouncing around inside my passenger cam cover when idling, it sounds small. I will hopefully be taking the cover off this week, the car isn't being driven. I'm hoping it's not a lifted ring land, just wondering any first hand experience on this, if anyone has had a similar sound, perhaps a cam follower? Blown out / broken spark plug? Just getting some ideas so I won't be so surprised.

Thanks

[camelgrundle]

I would check the spark plugs first.

[fastblackmerc]

I would check the spark plugs first.

Yes, pull all the plugs first.

[Marauderjack]

If you have a broken ring land one plug will probably have the gap beat shut......don't ask how I know!!:mad2:

Good Luck.....hope it's nothing serious!!:beer:

[Ourobos]

Yeah, been through the ringland issue with my 03 Cobra... Headed out to the shop now, have just enough time to pull the plugs, will report back. Thanks guys.

[a_d_a_m]

Initially I had thought I'd gotten some watery gas, car sounded louder and down on power SLIGHTLY. No engine lights or anything. Today I physically hear something bouncing around inside my passenger cam cover when idling, it sounds small. Rocker? Happened to me when I bent a valve...

[Ourobos]

Well.. There's an oily mess on the side of the passenger head :

http://www.bowlinggreenmustangs.com/ourobos/plug1.jpg

Removal of the plug cover revealed the #3 coil pack was busted, and the plug was just sitting in it's hole :

http://www.bowlinggreenmustangs.com/ourobos/plug2.jpg

The plug gas is closed due to something hitting it :

http://www.bowlinggreenmustangs.com/ourobos/plug3.jpg

Something has been through this cylinder alone, as there is some MINOR peppering on the piston, and it's clean compared to the other also :

http://www.bowlinggreenmustangs.com/ourobos/plug4.jpg

Up to this point, I was leaning on a broken ring land.. The part that stops me though is there is 150 compression across the whole passenger bank :

http://www.bowlinggreenmustangs.com/ourobos/plug5.jpg

It LOOKS like a spark plug has blown out, the threads are toast, but I don't know what could have closed the ring gap and gotten into the cylinder...

Ideas / diagnosis?

I have the Ford plug tool, I think it's worth a shot to retap the plug hole, replace the plug and coil, and see what's up... ????

[Marauderjack]

OUCH.....looks like the plug banging around in there beat it shut but I'd look at the piston with a bore scope if ya can!!:eek:

Re-tap it and put in an insert and go on if the piston looks OK!!:beer:

Good Luck!!

[justbob]

Probably just a blow out.


Builder Of Badassery

[Ourobos]

I need to buy a new timesert for the kit I've borrowed, can anyone tell me a size / part number on the actual sert? U may get this done tomorrow if so. Thanks again folks.

[Ourobos]

Well, one timesert, 30 minutes, and a new coil and oil change and she's purring like a kitten. Thanks for all the help guys. I'd be bummed major if she was down for an engine upgrade (not in the finances at the moment).

[camelgrundle]

Good to hear man!

[JBeezy]

Another happy ending with the help of the great guys here on this forum

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

When my grand marquis blew a plug, it was also beat shut, I suspect just from bouncing around. Glad to hear you are good to go.

[kmastl]

Well that makes all 3 of the 2003 Marauders I have owned at one point have had a plug blow out. My 04 never had a problem.

4 threads heads FTL.

Glad you got it resolved!

[a_d_a_m]

I feel lucky that I haven't had this happen...yet.

How bad is the timesert job from a DIY point of view?

[Ourobos]

It's cake.. Carefully tap the head, backing the tap out a few times to clean the threads, then put the timesert in via the tool, put the plug in and close it up. Literally 20 minutes total.

Also worth mentioning.. I bought the kit at NAPA, the tool, 4 inserts, and a little pack of red loctite for $31... It's not actual timesert brand, but having the originals before, they look identical. And that kit is $400.

[JBeezy]

It's cake.. Carefully tap the head, backing the tap out a few times to clean the threads, then put the timesert in via the tool, put the plug in and close it up. Literally 20 minutes total.

Also worth mentioning.. I bought the kit at NAPA, the tool, 4 inserts, and a little pack of red loctite for $31... It's not actual timesert brand, but having the originals before, they look identical. And that kit is $400.
Post a pic of the kit

[Ourobos]

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx/Spark-Plug-Rethreader-Kits/_/R-SER2125_0405868311

[chief455]

good deal. justbob get's a first guess win here too ;)

[fastblackmerc]

It's cake.. Carefully tap the head, backing the tap out a few times to clean the threads, then put the timesert in via the tool, put the plug in and close it up. Literally 20 minutes total.

Also worth mentioning.. I bought the kit at NAPA, the tool, 4 inserts, and a little pack of red loctite for $31... It's not actual timesert brand, but having the originals before, they look identical. And that kit is $400.

You should also pack the threading tool with grease to collect any chips generated from cutting the new threads.

[Ourobos]

I used 30w oil, but definitely use that or grease... Once I had finished, i started the engine for a second with the plug out to blow anything out of the cylinder that may have gotten in there.

[RF Overlord]

I feel lucky that I haven't had this happen...yet.
Yeah, but didn't you have the dropped valve seat issue? I'd rather have a plug blow out...

[Krytin]

You should also pack the threading tool with grease to collect any chips generated from cutting the new threads.

This is the best (only) way to tap/chase sparkplug threads w/heads on the block!

[BLACKMARAUDER04]

Thats a helecoil kit


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk