Anything I can do without removing the head? It's the head, not the plug... I've got the heli-coil kit, air compressor, shop vac, etc for any tried and true methods...

Thanks for any help - Mike M

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STEALTH DART
disappears at dusk!

It's "meatball surgery" time.

Bring the piston near the top on that cylinder. (leave yourself some tap tip clearance)

Put a lot of grease on the tap, this helps hold the "chips". Back-out the tap and clean / re-grease it often.

Install the Heli-coil as directed. Try to "stake" the top with a punch so it will not "unscrew" when you remove that plug later.
Use some anti-seize on that plug thread and don't over tighten it.
DD

thank you Doc, I'm on it!

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STEALTH DART
disappears at dusk!

Before you install the plug, crank the engine over a few times, and the compression may help blow out any metal that fell in.

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1980 Aspen 225 super six

Or a skinny magnet on a stick, often sold in parts stores to help pick up dropped nuts and bolts in tight spaces. Run it carefully down the plug hole and pull it back gently a few times to pick up any flakes left.

more good advice, thank-you

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STEALTH DART
disappears at dusk!