almost had to buy a new head!

[02 ranger]

Well today i was bored at school so i decided to put new plugs on my truck since i have not changed them since i got the truck about 60k miles ago and it makes a noise like an exhaust leak coming from a cylinder. i lifted my truck up to take of the passenger tire off and immediately noticed a black spot all around the front right spark plug area. then i noticed that the plug seemed to not be threaded in all the way. i took it out with only about 2 turns and saw the threads in the head where trashed. i asked a teacher what to do and he told me either try to re-thread the hole or get a new head. obviously i am going to try to retread it. so i got a 14 X 1.25 tap and with success re-threaded the hole! i left the plug out and started the truck with out the plug to get what ever metal shards fell in. after i put all new plugs in (motor craft double plats, the plugs that where in it where champions copper.. lol!) it started right up and immediately noticed a smoother idle. i hooked up a snap on scan tool and noticed i had much better vacuum too. now i hope to get better fuel economy with the proper plugs. i just thought id share my experience!