Review on Dorman 42025 Spark Plug Thread Repair Kit: Restoring Ford/Lincoln Models Efficiently by Carlos Burrows

2001 Ford 5.4 Triton. 4 stars because this is theoretically the easiest way to fix a popped plug and avoid drilling the head. The spark plug/cabin design is also neat. But I had some problems with the installation. Several reviews mentioned outlet selection, but I underestimated how critical this is. On my first try I found that the bushing stuck well to the adapter in the spark plug and took hours to remove. YMMV, but most of my 17mm sockets fit the spark plug snugly but are too tight on the adapter. Most 11/16 sockets will fit snugly in the adapter, but they are too big to fit in the socket. I ended up using an old head that was loose enough on the adapter and then turned it on a bench grinder to get a small enough OD for the well. I put a small magnet inside to hold the adapter in place the first time you screw it in. Use a short socket so that downward force can be applied when screwing in. I didn't install the adapter deep enough on the first try and there was a ticking while warming up. But I also didn't wait long enough for the thread sealant to cure (I used Permatex high-temp thread sealant, not true threadlocker), which was probably part of the problem as well. I was able to take out the adapter and reuse it. On the second try I applied more sealant, deepened it a bit (as far as I could with a medium length ratchet) and let it dry 3 days before launch. Seems well sealed this time, I'll unsubscribe if there are any problems in the future.