2001 Ford Ranger Spark plug issue (damsel in distress)

2001 FORD RANGER
85,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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CAMPERMAMA
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Ok so I got my ex to help me and we changed the plugs. Once changed started her up. Cylinder 1 & 2 are misfiring.

We pull the plugs from 1 & 2 and the tips are messed up! We tried putting in an old plug like half way then took it out, the tip was getting messed up.
Now mind you these are not real accessable, in fact pretty freakin hard to get to (passenger side) so my questions are:

Are we messing up the tips putting them in?
Are they cross threaded? How can you tell?
How else can the tips get messed up?
Can they get messed up from misfiring?

Really appreciate your help! The truck is now out of commission.
Sep 17, 2008 at 6:37 PM
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RASMATAZ
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We pull the plugs from 1 & 2 and the tips are messed up!

are the tips bending or whatever is happening, Explain
Sep 17, 2008 at 8:48 PM
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CAMPERMAMA
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Yes the part that is over the electrode bends down to the electrode so basically there is no more gap. Both plugs were like this when we removed them.
Sep 18, 2008 at 1:25 AM
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RASMATAZ
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The only way for that to happened is the piston is touching the plug. could be cross threated and going in further when it not suppose to or wrong type of plug
Sep 18, 2008 at 5:37 AM
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CAMPERMAMA
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Is there a way to tell if it is cross threaded?

The threads look ok and it was not hard to take back out.

Could it be we just made them too tight?
Sep 18, 2008 at 5:42 AM
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RASMATAZ
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Could it be we just made them too tight? try backing it up a lttle for it not to touch and see what happens make sure the combustion is not leaking thru the sparkplug
Sep 18, 2008 at 6:00 AM
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CAMPERMAMA
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Ok so the verdict is......bad news!

The 2 plugs were cross threaded, we verified last night with a light and magnify glass. So had it towed to my ex's house and we are going to take it apart and fix it the right way. He is good with this stuff and probably the only one I trust to do it right.
I want to thank you for all the help!
Sep 19, 2008 at 2:39 AM
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