I-HATE-CHEVY

Hello all,
I just recently found out that the engine in the LSX is the same one as the Rodeo, Trooper and the passport. Imagine that, honda...acura...isuzu...lol
Anyway, my brother inlaw is the lucky owner of this vehicle, I myself have a 97 Rodeo, and it appears that somewere along the line, one of the spark plugs was cross threaded in the head, and now has walloed out the hole so big that the plug will not fit.
My Father is planning on doing the old Heli-coil method on this vehicle this weekend.
My question, has anyone ever ran acrosss this problem, and if so, is is a "requirement" that the head be removed for this procedure?
Next question, if that is the case, would it be better to just buy a reman head, but I'm sure that would mean you should buy both and basically do a valve job?
The reasion I ask is, my Father and I have done valve jobs on our older vehicles, V8's, straight 6's, VW bug engines, but never done one on an overhead valve engine.

Does anybody have any recomendations on what to do with this? Brother-in-law is on a budget keep in mind, like all of us, lol.
Thanks in advance.
John

steveb_92rodeo

Because heli-coils require tapping out the hole to make bigger/re-thread, I would pull the head just in case filings end up in the cylinder.

Heli-coil is probably the cheapest route, especially if there is nothing else wrong with the head.

Steve

smarquez1

heli-coil is the way to go--just be ABSOLUTELY sure you don't float the center at all when drilling out the hole prior to fitting the new threads. This would offset your plug and I don't know how much room you'd have for error. I learned this the hardway on an aluminum intake. Now I have lots of "custom" parts to fit my new hole placement . . .

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Sinner

98 Isuzu Rodeo 2 wheel drive/manual
86 Suzuki Samurai
78 K5 Blazer, 6" lift
66 Chevelle

Tonupboy

I've never seen an Acura LSX before...I know the only Acura SUV model is the MDX...but do you have a pic or a link to an LSX??? I've owned a 1987 Acura Integra and 1998 Integra, but NEVER seen or heard of the LSX (unless its foreign)....just curious...

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T O N U P B O Y

"That which does not become a part of the one, shall become one with the void."
Allegiance: None
Function: Universal Dominator
2001 Nissan Pathfinder
1993 Isuzu Rodeo 4WD V6

I-HATE-CHEVY

Looks like the Trooper, in that sense.
try this link
http://www.automobiles.com/review_de...t=year&id=1996

Tonupboy

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle....there it is!! Thanks!

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T O N U P B O Y

"That which does not become a part of the one, shall become one with the void."
Allegiance: None
Function: Universal Dominator
2001 Nissan Pathfinder
1993 Isuzu Rodeo 4WD V6

Canucklehead

IIRC, Isuzu supplied Rodeos and Troopers to Honda/Acura to be rebadged as Passports and SLXs in exchange for the Odyssey, which Isuzu rebadged as the Oasis. Gee, I wonder who won that trade off?? Honda/Acura gains a whole new group of SUV buyers for their Odyssey based Pilot/MDX and Isuzu, well what's left of Isuzu ends up only selling rebadged GM vehicles.

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2000 VW New Beetle TDI
2007 Honda CR-V

steveb_92rodeo

LOL, ironically, I own a Honda and an Isuzu...

I've also owned a few Cavaliers with the 3.1.

My current truck (Isuzu Rodeo, 92 4x4) has the GM 3.1 and it works ok. I am looking at putting a 4.3 GM in it though, as I worked in a machine shop that dealt with them.

No one won...they all scored equally as I can tell. My opinion (you won't like it), Honda sold me a piece of tin can Civid (02), but it runs awesome fuel milage and just flies (190KM/h w/1.7L) on the highway

Give me my truck, and my girlfriend can keep her Civic, unless I need to make it somewhere down the highway FAST!!

Steve

steveb_92rodeo

Sorry, forgot to mention my point... Listen to smarquez1, and do this job right....

If you're going to heli-coil, pull the head and use the proper tools to do it. I doubt Honda (with their limited space) will give you ANY space for error.

You can 'coil' it, but just keep the tools accurate!!

Steve

I-HATE-CHEVY

Thanks Guys for all your input. I'm not the one doing the work, so I guess it's up to the mercy of the person getting it done. I agree, the head should come off, but it looks like they are going to try and do it without doing that.

I have a question. I own a 97 Rodeo with the 3.2L. Is that a GM product? Man, I hope not. I really hope that it's an actual Isuzu engine.
Thanks again.
John

rodeo02

John- If I was to go thru all the trouble of pulling a 3.2L head, I'd just go ahead & replace it with a reman unit or a good used one. You figure all the work going into pulling one of these heads: Intake has to come off, exhaust has to come off, Timing belt has to come off, not to mension all the associated hardware, covers, plugs, fittings, etc.... Plus all the gasket replacents when it goes back on. A MAJOR PITA of a job!!! If it's up in age/mileage, I'd do the cowboy method & either suck or blow the small amount of aluminum chips outa that cylinder before I put the spark plug back in & sparked it up.
G/luck
Joel

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2007 Chevy Cobalt LS 4dr, auto
2008 Honda Odyssey LX chick magnet
Gone but not forgotten : 2001 Ford Windstar LX, 2005 Trailblazer LS 4x4, 2002 Isuzu Rodeo LS 4x4 & and many more.

I-HATE-CHEVY

My thoughts exactly, Joel.
But, it seems like you would want to do them both while you were there, which brings up a another animal.
So, now we go to the timing belt replacement, then the water pumps, gaskets.
an, the next thing you know, you have basicaly rebuilt the top end of the motor, lol.
We are sticking to the "simple" (ha ha) method for now.
do the helicoil in the car, and try to suck out what we can with the Shop vac.
I'm thinking while drilling to use the Vac, maybe it would keep the shavings up out of the cylinder.
Anyway, thanks to all for the advice.
I will post after this weekend with the "news", good or bad.
John