Spark plug nut missing. (Page 1/2)
Additivewalnut MAR 09, 06:23 PM
I've been doing this whole car thing for a while now, feel like I've seen it all, but then my fiero throws me something like this

This is on my rear bank, I think cylinder 4. No wonder I couldn't get a socket on it, THERES NOTHING TO SOCKET! I think cylinder 2 is the same way, I can't seem to get a socket on that one either. Cylinder 6 came out just fine.

What do I even do? 3800 swap it?
olejoedad MAR 09, 06:41 PM
Bust off the porcelain, punch what you can down into the cylinder, use an ez out to remove the threaded portion in the head and blow the cylinder out with compressed air.

Or pull the head and do it on the workbench.
Skybax MAR 09, 07:50 PM
I would soak the base of that plug with PB Blaster for days before trying to extract it with EZ out.

[This message has been edited by Skybax (edited 03-09-2022).]

Spadesluck MAR 09, 07:52 PM
Thats a "new" for me!
theogre MAR 09, 09:22 PM
I'm surprise the plug didn't blow out. (Nut section was to keep the porcelain in.)

Yes, Soak w/ PB baster etc for days first.
Avoid breaking the porcelain. Anything gets into the engine is very hard to remove and quickly damage the cylinder.
Maybe some light taps will made porcelain to pop out.

Rotate engine so intake valve is open for 1 cylinder to work on.
Put vacuum cleaner in blower mode etc on intake.
Hopefully anything is blown out thru the plug hole instead getting inside.

Make sure plug's ground arm is removed. Often breaks using "ezout" and damage the engine if left.

Use "ezout" made for this job.

But Note:
If head's taper seal area is damage by rust too... New plugs may leak. Needs a good clean tapper on the top of hole to seal.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

cvxjet MAR 10, 01:36 AM
I think it would be best to pull the head.....So making sure nothing gets in the combustion chamber that could damage the engine. And if you need to clean/tap the threads, no worries (Once again) of any contamination with debris.
reinhart MAR 10, 07:37 AM
You've got a great little basin there to just fill with PB Blaster and let sit for a few days. If it were me, I'd do that and then use a torch on the end, then I'd clamp some vice grips on that exposed metal end and just slowly start turning it side to side and hopefully it will break loose and turn out.
theogre MAR 10, 11:43 AM
I just save a copy to chop the full size pic...


"nut" section isn't completely gone but standard socket won't grab it either.
Maybe crap at bottom of hole that needs removing as won't help you if left. Can't tell from the pic.

Soak w/ PB etc for several days.

If engine runs... get engine warm, shut off, then spray oil before cool down.
Then wait. Oil gets thinner and heat cooling can suck oil in the threads.
Avoid WD40 and others that evaporate fast when hot.

Then use whatever to turn it.

If have old sockets of various sizes...
Might be able to drive on a socket. You want a tight fit but not so tight you drive w/ big hammer and break the metal.
If needed, care break the porcelain top and clean loose pieces before removing the plug.

External "ezouts" like ones to removing strip lug nuts are often too big to fit there.

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 03-10-2022).]

Skybax MAR 10, 06:32 PM
Additivewalnut, I'm curious, how many miles are on the car?

Reason for asking is, the block looks clean and plugs look possibly original.

PS: Check out this thread with photos... https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/145278.html

[This message has been edited by Skybax (edited 03-10-2022).]

Additivewalnut MAR 11, 12:49 AM

quote
Originally posted by Skybax:

Additivewalnut, I'm curious, how many miles are on the car?



It was my grandfather's car before mine, he bought it brand new in 1986, only put 110k on it before parking it for ~25 years. It actually surprised me how clean the block was, I was expecting the valve covers to be leaking like nobody's business.