Spark Plug Problem, am I screwed ?

Afternoon all.

I need a little help !
After owning the MK1 Cabbie for a week. I decided to give her a little service over the weekend.

First of all the first two spark plugs came out ok which was a bonus, the 3rd and 4th ones were a different story, It would seem the last owber decided to remove the metal washers from the plugs, and they have corroded in situe. One of which has snapped off ! Ouch I know ! The 3rd and fourth ones were in so tight !
So how do I go about repair the damage the last owner carried out !
Does the head need to come off and the remaing parts of the plugs be removed and then the head re threaded?
Or is there another way to get these buggers out ?

Currently the car is a non runner due to this. Worst case scenario it will have to go on the back of a truck and into the garage, or would I be better off just getting a new head fitted ? Buy a new head and all the parts to go with such as a gasket etc etc ?

Any help would be appreciated.

cheers

Seems not to have the same value but Welcome to the Club first of all. 

Wow, my guess is to remove the head first. 
I'd want to get close eye balls on it but away from the car. 
See closely if there's more damage and soak the broken one in WD40.
Maybe apply some gentle heat and try to get mole grips on it (depends where its broken off). 

It's not easy to picture the situation so hard to give you the best option or options. 

But let's see what the real experts think!  

Bascially the thread part of the plug is left in the head ! I think its got to be a head of job, and remove them that way, and then rethread the  holes in the head and then refit and go again ! What a pain in the a**e!  

Are you handy enough to do the head work yourself? 

Taking the head off is the option, as you may be drilling the plugs and having it heli coiled (thread inserts) 

You could always buy a 2nd hand head and just stick a new gasket on there and away we go 

i don't think my skill base will allow me to go that far if I'm honest !

If you can point me in the direction of a 2nd hand head, that could be a good option !

You haven't said what engine, but is this any good?
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=321540187627 

sorry its an 1800 cc

ppc229w said

You haven't said what engine, but is this any good?
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=321540187627 

link no worky !

Try this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321540187627?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D321540187627%26_rdc%3D1

That's the one RichardHall

 

What about getting hold of a set of left have drill bits and undoing the spark plug that way. I've just used a set of these on a sheared water flange bolt and it worked a treat. Halfrauds sell these. You have to drill a small standard pilot hole first and then use the left hand bits. I soaked the bolt fist with a loosening spray overnight (bit stronger than WD40)
Without seeing the plugs first and whet you've got to platy with I'm not too sure if this will help at all but thought I'd chuck it out there !

Fathammer said

What about getting hold of a set of left have drill bits and undoing the spark plug that way. I've just used a set of these on a sheared water flange bolt and it worked a treat. Halfrauds sell these. You have to drill a small standard pilot hole first and then use the left hand bits. I soaked the bolt fist with a loosening spray overnight (bit stronger than WD40)
Without seeing the plugs first and whet you've got to platy with I'm not too sure if this will help at all but thought I'd chuck it out there !

As Fathammer says these are also known as easyouts I've used these successfully before on sheered studs etc , only prob I'd see is gettin the pilot hole I the spark plug to start bound to be worth a go nothing ventured nothing gained good luck with it anyway

Thanks for all your replies.
I'm now looking at two plugs.

The first one came out bar the actual thread of the spark plug which is still stuck in the head.
The 2nd one half of the plug has snapped off, so 3/4 of the plug is actually struck within the head too.

I've tried an easy out took with no joy, even saturated them both in freeze spray and wd40 but still no joy, so I think the entire head will need to come off, the plugs drilled out, and the threads re run with a kind of tap and die set.
I've purchased the replacement headed gasket set, and new head bolts, plus seeing as the head will have to come off, i thought I may as well replace the Cam Belt too ! , kind of makes sense !

Juan,
Can you post up a couple of pictures so we can see more or less what you're having to deal with mate! 

Juan,
Can you post up a couple of pictures so we can see more or less what you're having to deal with mate! 

Here we go !

here we are

Oh dear, oh dear putting it mildly. 
I'm no expert but that looks like it needs to be professionally remachined if it's possible. 

I'd chuck that head and put another one on. 
Cam belt is a good idea while you're there! 

well, I've spoken to a freind of mine, who is going to pick it up and take it away next week to do it !
He himself has a friend within the trade that can just that I think ! Well I hope so anyways…..

I did look at the other option of getting a new head, but with that theres probably a gamble too, i.e the history of where it came from? Skimming too, more than likely that would have to be done….

So all in all, the labour would work out the same I expect….

That's good news, hope it all works out and do let us know the outcome please.