How much does it cost for a mechanic to use a time sert to repair a stripped spark plug thread?
Feb 06, 2007 by Deeter B | Posted in Maintenance & Repairs
I tried to repair the thread myself with Sav A thread repair kit and heli coil but ended up cross threading the newly tapped hole. This is a 1990 Chevy Cavalier, so I am trying to determine if its worth trying a time sert.
Since you have already tried to do it yourself and have messed it up it might be possible that it is unrepairable now. You will have to call a shop locally and have them look at it to let you know.
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New Parts Installed
1. I already put these on since they came a few days before the rest of the parts, but brand new hood blocks with proper screws as Toledo intended. The old blocks (original?) were very worn down. As you can see in the picture, they were much shorter than the prescribed height, and as a consequence are also much wider after years of compression. The hardware holding the blocks to the hood, while the correct size, were heavily rusted and had the wrong head on it. The 3/8ths hex bolt and nut were replaced with the proper 10-24 round head phillips with #10 washer, #10 lock washer, and 3/8ths hex bolt, just as it was nearly 60 years ago.
2. Brand new side view mirror. The old mirror arm was in fairly good condition, but the hardware and the actual round mirror piece were very warn. The mirror itself wouldn’t stay in place at all, and the tension screw was stripped beyond repair. The new arm leaves a little to be desired and is far more of a temporary thing to give me a mirror than a permanent installation. The metal used in it, besides it’s non-original telescoping build, is far too thin and I had to shim it into the bracket to make it fit. Far from an ideal installation, but it’ll do until the final rebuild.
3. Finally, a rear view mirror. Unfortunately, much like the side view mirror, it’s hardly original. You can kinda tell in the picture that there are 3 small holes on a triangular head that attach the mirror to the windshield frame. While that may work for later model Jeeps (or maybe this is just a generic one?), it’s hardly the one that belongs on this guy. I just need to find the right rear-view stem.
4. No pictures of this (didn’t see it as necessary), but I also replaced the radiator cap. The old one was fairly rotted, and was even missing half of the gasket. I kept the old cap, not entirely sure why, but I figured I’d keep it around for a while.
I’ve got more parts in the box, but I think those will wait until the weekend for an install. The new spark plug wires will help I’m sure. I’m debating on weather or not to install the new ignition switch when I do the replacement light switch, or if I should just hold on to all of those for the re-wire at the end of the rebuild. Decisions, decisions…
