Stripped Spark plug Fitting (Long)

[Phil Payne]

> Driving to work this morning, all was fine for the first 5 miles, then I heard a loud "POOF"
from the engine area and loud exhaust noise.  Thought it was my exhaust finally giving up so
thought nothin of it as a new one should be here tomorrow. 3 miles later after getting to
work, take a look under the car, exhaust is in tact.  Pop the hood and see the number 2 plug
wire and plug hanging over the valve cover.  This can't be good.

No, but how did it happen?  The engine ate something?  I've seen several incidents of plugs
being pushed out by debris in the engine - the favourite (seen twice) is an exhaust washer
dropped into a port during a rebuild.  In both of my cases, it popped out #3 plug, but a
stripdown revealved the damn thing had been in just about every cylinder.  I was quite
surprised to find that such large objects can wander between cylinders.

I don't think you should look for damage from the helicoil job - look for a continuation of
whatever process pushed the plug out.  Was the sharp end of the plug damaged?

-- 
  Phil Payne
  http://www.isham-research.com
  +44 7785 302 803