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!!

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

[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 :



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



The plug gas is closed due to something hitting it :



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 :



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 :



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!!

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

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!