seized plugs in aluminum heads.... What to do?

82 GT · 04-28-2001, 04:52 PM

I am posting this for a friend of mine. He has Edelbrock Aluminum heads on his '89 mustang that he just bought from a guy.
We went to check the spark plugs and noticed that the plugs won't budge!!! I am assuming that the guy didn't apply anti-seize on the plugs when he installed them and now we can't get them out!!
I have a long breaker bar that I could use but wanted to check here first to see if that is a good idea or not.
Is there another way to get them out or do we just have to use muscle power on them?
I didn't want to ruin his heads or anything so I want to find out from this board first before I do anything else.

------------------
'82 GT 351W C-4,BBK headers,Carter 625 carb,Comp.Cam,Flowmaster exhaust.
1988 GT...T-5,bone stock

Z28EATR · 04-28-2001, 05:02 PM

i had some collector bolts on my bbk shorty headers that were rusted and wouldnt budge, i soaked them with some wd-40 and let them sit for about an hour, im not sure about using a breaker bar considering the heads are aluminum. GOOD LUCK!!!!

------------------
88 LX 5.0 Ragtop
"Desire"
14.29 @ 96.45 mph
Mod Specs

82 GT · 04-29-2001, 10:52 AM

Maybe I could email Edelbrock and find out what they recommend.
Anyone else have any suggestions??

------------------
'82 GT 351W C-4,BBK headers,Carter 625 carb,Comp.Cam,Flowmaster exhaust.
1988 GT...T-5,bone stock

2FastLX · 04-29-2001, 02:24 PM

Start soaking them down with penetrating oil. Let them sit for an hour or two and try to break them loose again. If not soak them again.

------------------
Too much to list. Best ET on the car so far with stock 2.73 gears - 13.73@102mph

Indiana Stangers Association
Buy your parts here
ICQ# 42269241

8850 · 04-29-2001, 03:52 PM

If you do ruin the threads you can repair them with Heli Coils. They are available at most auto parts stores.

------------------
88 347, Twisted wedge heads,Comp Cams 224/230 cam, 1/4=10.718 @ 123.02 mph dyno= http://www.fbody.com/members/LarryS/mustdyno.jpg

Mach 1 · 04-29-2001, 05:21 PM

Use the breaker bar. u shouldnt hurt any threads removing them. Its when you over tighten on installation that you can screw things up.

------------------
1993 GT/AOD
'93 Mustang GT

82 GT · 04-29-2001, 10:16 PM

Since it's my friends car, I think I will soak it with penetrating oil first and see what happens. If nothing, I will soak again and then use the breaker bar.
I guess ultimatly, there is no other way short of buying new heads.

------------------
'82 GT 351W C-4,BBK headers,Carter 625 carb,Comp.Cam,Flowmaster exhaust.
1988 GT...T-5,bone stock

Jaydee · 04-30-2001, 09:21 AM

Let the penetrating oil soak in overnight - First, give it a good shot, let it sit for two or three hours then soak it again and let it sit untill the next day and they (hopefully) should come out. And don't forget the anti seize compound on the threads of the new plugs when you put em back in - critical to use it with aluminum heads.

------------------
1965 K code coupe - numbers matching - restoration ongoing. 1987 LX notch, 5 spd, stock heads (minor porting) and intake, 65mmTB, 3.55's, ram air, pulleys, shorty's, 2.5" exhaust with cats 13.89@100.25

04-28-2001, 04:52 PM	#1
82 GT Import Slayer Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 2,241	seized plugs in aluminum heads.... What to do? I am posting this for a friend of mine. He has Edelbrock Aluminum heads on his '89 mustang that he just bought from a guy. We went to check the spark plugs and noticed that the plugs won't budge!!! I am assuming that the guy didn't apply anti-seize on the plugs when he installed them and now we can't get them out!! I have a long breaker bar that I could use but wanted to check here first to see if that is a good idea or not. Is there another way to get them out or do we just have to use muscle power on them? I didn't want to ruin his heads or anything so I want to find out from this board first before I do anything else. ------------------ '82 GT 351W C-4,BBK headers,Carter 625 carb,Comp.Cam,Flowmaster exhaust. 1988 GT...T-5,bone stock

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04-28-2001, 05:02 PM	#2
Z28EATR Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Florence, KY,USA Posts: 210	i had some collector bolts on my bbk shorty headers that were rusted and wouldnt budge, i soaked them with some wd-40 and let them sit for about an hour, im not sure about using a breaker bar considering the heads are aluminum. GOOD LUCK!!!! ------------------ 88 LX 5.0 Ragtop "Desire" 14.29 @ 96.45 mph Mod Specs

04-29-2001, 10:52 AM	#3
82 GT Import Slayer Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 2,241	Maybe I could email Edelbrock and find out what they recommend. Anyone else have any suggestions?? ------------------ '82 GT 351W C-4,BBK headers,Carter 625 carb,Comp.Cam,Flowmaster exhaust. 1988 GT...T-5,bone stock

04-29-2001, 02:24 PM	#4
2FastLX The Photoshop Guru Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Mecca, Indiana Posts: 1,419	Start soaking them down with penetrating oil. Let them sit for an hour or two and try to break them loose again. If not soak them again. ------------------ Too much to list. Best ET on the car so far with stock 2.73 gears - 13.73@102mph Indiana Stangers Association Buy your parts here ICQ# 42269241

04-29-2001, 03:52 PM	#5
8850 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 1998 Location: Sugarland, TX USA Posts: 161	If you do ruin the threads you can repair them with Heli Coils. They are available at most auto parts stores. ------------------ 88 347, Twisted wedge heads,Comp Cams 224/230 cam, 1/4=10.718 @ 123.02 mph dyno= http://www.fbody.com/members/LarryS/mustdyno.jpg

04-29-2001, 05:21 PM	#6
Mach 1 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,866	Use the breaker bar. u shouldnt hurt any threads removing them. Its when you over tighten on installation that you can screw things up. ------------------ 1993 GT/AOD '93 Mustang GT

04-29-2001, 10:16 PM	#7
82 GT Import Slayer Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 2,241	Since it's my friends car, I think I will soak it with penetrating oil first and see what happens. If nothing, I will soak again and then use the breaker bar. I guess ultimatly, there is no other way short of buying new heads. ------------------ '82 GT 351W C-4,BBK headers,Carter 625 carb,Comp.Cam,Flowmaster exhaust. 1988 GT...T-5,bone stock

04-30-2001, 09:21 AM	#8
Jaydee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Conn. Posts: 220	Let the penetrating oil soak in overnight - First, give it a good shot, let it sit for two or three hours then soak it again and let it sit untill the next day and they (hopefully) should come out. And don't forget the anti seize compound on the threads of the new plugs when you put em back in - critical to use it with aluminum heads. ------------------ 1965 K code coupe - numbers matching - restoration ongoing. 1987 LX notch, 5 spd, stock heads (minor porting) and intake, 65mmTB, 3.55's, ram air, pulleys, shorty's, 2.5" exhaust with cats 13.89@100.25