Controlled spark plug orientation

A method comprising:

• forming a spark plug housing in an engine structure using a tool having a longitudinally extending body including a drilling portion, a seat forming portion and a thread forming portion, the forming including advancing the tool a first distance in a first axial direction into the engine structure to create a spark plug bore using the drilling portion and a spark plug seat surrounding the spark plug bore using the seat forming portion, the thread forming portion extending from the seat forming portion and into the spark plug bore through the spark plug seat;
• displacing the tool a second distance in a second axial direction generally opposite the first axial direction after the forming to provide a predetermined axial orientation between the thread forming portion of the tool and the spark plug seat based on the first and second distances;
• and
• engaging the spark plug bore at a first predetermined rotational and axial position and displacing the tool in an orbital motion and in the second axial direction beyond the second distance at a predetermined rate to form a threading on the spark plug bore providing a starting point of the threading at a second predetermined rotational position proximate the spark plug seat.

A tool comprising:

• a shank at a first end of a body of the tool for engagement with a drive mechanism;
• a thread forming region located on the tool body for forming a threading on a workpiece;
• and
• a seat forming region located on the tool body axially between the shank and the thread forming region for forming a seating region on the workpiece.