broke spark Plug

I have a 91 TC. One day it just stopped starting. I check the spark plugs and found that one of them was broken and looked very burned up. All parts of the plug came out of the hole except where the hook sparks the stem. I was told I could drill out the remainder. Is this possible? Has anyone ever done this before?

Have a look at this picture:

http://www.infovisual.info/05/img_en/012%20Automobile%20spark%20plug.jpg

Are you saying the "spark plug body" is still in the head, and all the rest of the spark plug, insulator and all came out?

If that the case, you should still be able to get a socket on the Hex portion of the shell to turn it. If it's extremely burnt, it may have blown it's internal seals to allow combustion between the shell and the ceramic insulator.

I'd try to get some penetrating oil to the threads before attempting to un-screw the remaining shell. If the hex is destroyed and wont allow a socket, AND the shell is stuck in the head, AND the ceramic insulator is gone, penetrating oil on the threads and an Easy-Out inserted where the ceramic insulator was might be your only chance to save this beast. Even with the Easy-out, if it spins without gripping, it'll drop metal shavings into the cylinder.

If you can get a socket on the shell and the SHELL just spins in the head without coming up, OR the Easy-out method dosn't work, OR if you suspect you've already dropped a bunch of crap into the cylinder, the HEAD will have to be removed for repair, and gain access to the cylinder for cleaning.

DRILLING IS NOT AN OPTION !
Drilling will destroy the head threads and drop metal shavings into the cylinder.

The only thing that is left are the threads from the spark plug and the ground electrode. I have no idea how to get it out, except taking the head off and drilling it out.

Have a look at this picture:

http://www.infovisual.info/05/img_en/012%20Automobile%20spark%20plug.jpg

Are you saying the "spark plug body" is still in the head, and all the rest of the spark plug, insulator and all came out?

If that the case, you should still be able to get a socket on the Hex portion of the shell to turn it. If it's extremely burnt, it may have blown it's internal seals to allow combustion between the shell and the ceramic insulator.

I'd try to get some penetrating oil to the threads before attempting to un-screw the remaining shell. If the hex is destroyed and wont allow a socket, AND the shell is stuck in the head, AND the ceramic insulator is gone, penetrating oil on the threads and an Easy-Out inserted where the ceramic insulator was might be your only chance to save this beast. Even with the Easy-out, if it spins without gripping, it'll drop metal shavings into the cylinder.

If you can get a socket on the shell and the SHELL just spins in the head without coming up, OR the Easy-out method dosn't work, OR if you suspect you've already dropped a bunch of crap into the cylinder, the HEAD will have to be removed for repair, and gain access to the cylinder for cleaning.

DRILLING IS NOT AN OPTION !
Drilling will destroy the head threads and drop metal shavings into the cylinder.

Ok, then you can see through the shell into the cylinder
cause there's a hole through the center of it.

Use some p.oil on the threads to help with the extraction,
then get an Easy-out of the correct size, and give that a go.

http://static.zoovy.com/img/usfreight/W180-H180-Bffffff/easyout9

PS
I've always found good 'ol "Liquid Wrench" to penetrate the best.
100 times better than WD40 or it's competitors.

http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/sdhartney/images/LiquidWrench.jpg http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/sdhartney/images/LiquidWrench1963.jpg
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~1963 ADVERTISMENT

Hey all, thanks for your help. The p.oil and ez-out worked just fine.

Ok, then you can see through the shell into the cylinder
cause there's a hole through the center of it.

Use some p.oil on the threads to help with the extraction,
then get an Easy-out of the correct size, and give that a go.

http://static.zoovy.com/img/usfreight/W180-H180-Bffffff/easyout9

PS
I've always found good 'ol "Liquid Wrench" to penetrate the best.
100 times better than WD40 or it's competitors.

http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/sdhartney/images/LiquidWrench.jpg http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/sdhartney/images/LiquidWrench1963.jpg
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~1963 ADVERTISMENT

Great,
Turn it over several strokes to "blow out" any loose crap that may have fallen in there before you seal it up with a new spark plug :)

PS, Don't have your face in the path of flying shit from the spark plug hole :(

Glad to hear you're making headway..