welded spark plug !!!, i went to change the plugs and ^ Options

[runningaddict6]

So today i went to change the plugs and maybe give the old ST some more life and i found a terrible surprise. A previous owner welded the plug in place, i would say the bead is about 3/8" long. I guess they stripped the threads and were too lazy to put in a Heli-Coil. i tried to take a picture, but the flash didnt go in the deep hole. I cant change the plug obviously, i guess wait for the plug to go bad and then worry about it. So is the head salvageable or would i need a new one after the plug goes?

[zipstrips]

wow! id love to see this! i honestly think its a lost cause! start looking for a new head! i just finish getting ride of my 7a left overs too! where in PA are you!? im going to the junk yard tomorrow i believe. maybe i can pick one up.

[Bitter]

bull****, you can not weld steel to aluminum.

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

bull****, you can not weld steel to aluminum.

2nd. You can, but it's really hard and it's extremely hard to make it hold well at all. Tapping it and putting in a oversized ring around the spark plug (heli-coil) would be so much easier. I would hate to try to weld down in a hole like that. If someone actually did that, I would be more impressed than anything. It's salvagable too. I can't see how you couldn't get it out of there. Worst cause senario you pull the head off and go at it from the inside, drilling it out.

[runningaddict6]

well if its not welded idk what else it would be b/c there is solid metal on the base of the plug and on the head. i'll try again to take another pic. i'm kinda near allentown and reading. that would be great if you could find one, we could meet somewhere and you could see the monstrosity and i could help fix it.

bitter- i'm not making this up so idk what else it would be if thats not welded, i mean it is like 8 inches down a really small hole so i can see it that well but its solid and metallic for sure

[Bitter]

bull****, you can not weld steel to aluminum.

2nd. You can, but it's really hard and it's extremely hard to make it hold well at all. Tapping it and putting in a oversized ring around the spark plug (heli-coil) would be so much easier. I would hate to try to weld down in a hole like that. If someone actually did that, I would be more impressed than anything. It's salvagable too. I can't see how you couldn't get it out of there. Worst cause senario you pull the head off and go at it from the inside, drilling it out.

you can not weld steel to aluminum, the melting point of steel is 3 times that of aluminum. you can however BRAZE steel to aluminum. more than likely they poured solder down there or some kind of metal laden epoxy.

This post has been edited by Bitter: Apr 9, 2007 - 5:46 PM

[cjh4l22]

i have an extra 7afe cover if you need a new one...

[runningaddict6]

CJH- thanks but to tell you the truth i think i am going to worry about it when the plug goes, until then, i'll just let it go

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

Put a 4age head on it. That's worth the hassel.

[56willysnut]

I have a 7afe head laying in the garage, let me know if ya need it.

[rjbibeau]

i wanna see some pics of this one!!!!

This post has been edited by rjbibeau: Apr 10, 2007 - 12:11 PM

[runningaddict6]

http://s175.photobucket.com/albums/w134/07...urrent=weld.jpg theres a link, but idk how to put a pic on here, i've never tried before, it comes up w/ an error

This post has been edited by runningaddict6: Apr 10, 2007 - 6:19 PM

[Bitter]

looks like someone tried to weld the plug tube into place.

[rjbibeau]

wow someone ghetto rigged that one. new head is around 300