[s-cars] Thanksgiving Misadventure

[Keith Franchetti]

Hi All-

Quick update. Car came back home today finally via AAA, without my
even having to be there for pickup or here for dropoff!!!  Excellent
service, I have to say. And very good service on the phone too.

I gave a big update last Sunday, which I guess got stuck with the
moderator since it was too big.  I guess it's still stuck in the
moderator's filter.

Looks like your were right Bob, in saying the valve cover gasket must
me shot.  What I thought was fuel all over the place is now looking
more like oil.  I don't smell any gas in the oil.

Though the threads on the spark plug are badly melted on one side, I
used the thread chaser in the spark plug hole, and I seem to have a
good 8 threads holding the plug in.  (Though I'm not completely
convinced I have a nice surface to seat the plug against).  I checked
one of the undamaged plugs, and that seems to have about 11 full turns
holding it in.  Who thinks 8 threads will be enough?  What is the
downside to trying it with 8.  I was thinking idle it for a while.
Check torque.  If it has held, drive gently for a few minutes.  Check
torque again. Drive a little longer and harder, etc. until I feel
convinced it's going to hold torque.

Plan is to try to change out the valve cover gasket, vacuum out the
combustion chamber as best I can, put a new boot on (replacing the
completely destroyed one), but find out if the old cold is working or
dead.  Change coil too if need be (if I can figure out the wiring).
See if she fires up.

I might find out the damage to the spark plug hole is significant
enough that I need to try the time-sert solution, maybe even pulling
the head along the way.  But does anyone see a huge potential downside
to trying this first?

Thanks.

Keith