Re: [Chrysler300] Helpful hint after you get twisted off

["Warren Anderson" <wranderson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

  My guess would be that a plug will seize in a cast iron head if, for in the case of a Chrysler hemi V8, a replacement plug is either simply not properly torqued or the gasket was left on the before last plug was installed and the last replacement plug was properly installed without a gasket into the threads left exposed to combustion gasses. 

  A thread restorer is a good tool to own. I like a clean female thread and a little Never Seize on my plug threads (with an adjustment in torque spec). Never had one hard to replace or come loose. Some plug manufacturers have plating on the threads that presumably makes this step obsolete. Always a good idea to use a bit of dielectric grease on the inside of plug boots so they will come off when you want them to and to 'burp' the suckers so they don't pop off when they shouldn't. 

  Late model and current production vehicles have mostly aluminum cylinder heads and if the plugs are not properly installed a costly repair will be the result. Ford has some really strange design plugs that are very problematic. For one of their V8 engines we have a $300+ tool set to deal with fungled threads but have yet to use it (fortunately).

  We soak and twist and work patiently with stuck plugs and in the last 29 years and a number of techs we have not lost a head or had to remove one for a torn up spark plug thread. Get in a hurry and there will be consequences. We have installed thread serts in VW heads BTW.

  Pair of sharp nose diagonal cutters and a screw driver should get the seal rings off new plugs quick and clean.

  Warren Anderson
  Sedona,AZ


    
  In about 1957, I twisted off a spark plug in a customer's hemi-engined New
  Yorker and thought I was dead meat--assuming we would have to pull the head
  and take it to a machine shop. The service station lead mechanic selected a
  big, long screwdriver with a bit that would wedge into the inside of the
  remaining threaded section of the plug. He then tapped the screwdriver
  handle to set the bit into the small plug cylinder, unscrewed it and handed
  it to me. Sparkplugs have straight threads so have little resistance to
  unscrewing after the upper part of the plug is broken off.

  The boss still kept his beautiful Snap-On torque wrench locked up. 

  Any theories as to what is the effect of not stripping off the spark plug
  gaskets when putting new plugs in a hemi? Other than setting the tip a
  little higher in the head? Seems like it should still create an effective
  seal. And any hints on how to get the little ringers off of a new plug?

  Rich Barber
  Brentwood, CA


  -----Original Message-----
  From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
  Behalf Of dan300f@xxxxxxx
  Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 5:03 AM
  To: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] 1960 300F Special 400 HP & daytona sand query

  In a message dated 1/10/2010 8:43:19 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, 
  thelastbestgenius@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:

  and also the double blown 300F special of Granatelli, which he apparently 
  has never sold, let go.

  Hi all:

  About 12 years ago, at a Chrysler 300 Club meet in Sacramento, at our 
  awards banquet, we had a speaker talk about the supercharged 300F Special.
  I 
  cannot recall his name but he was very familiar with the history of this
  car 
  during the period of 6 years following the timing run at Bonneville Salt 
  Flats.

  He said that after the said run, the blowers were removed and the car used 
  for tire testing in Northern Nevada for 6 years during which time they put 
  several hundred thousand miles on it and much of it was at speeds over 160 
  mph. The last day they were going to use it for tire testing, this 
  person's uncle, who was the head of the testing program, told him to change
  the 
  spark plugs. During this process, he broke off one plug in the block. His

  uncle said that testing was over so they started back to the "barn" on 7 
  plugs. Sometime along the way, they were passed by some young lads in an 
  Olds 442. They taunted the 300F and the speaker's uncle said, They aren't 
  going to get away with that.", and he took off after them. At some point
  in 
  time, they passed the 442. This was dome on 7 plugs!!! The speaker said
  he 
  has no idea what happened to the car after then.

  About 5 or so years ago, I contacted Granatelli's shop in Camarillo, CA to 
  find out where I could find a source for the Paxton blowers used back 
  then. I talked to one of the Granatelli brothers. During the
  conversation, I 
  asked him about the car. He said he had no idea where the car ended up. 
  So that apparently means that Andy does not still have the car.

  Dan Reitz
  Northridge, CA


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