Help!

teg · Mar 11, 2009

canoetrpr, I would go the extra mile and replace both... you might be just one click away from stripping the other one if you had put that much torque to it... that is unless you like to dropping the pan again

canoetrpr · Mar 11, 2009

Actually - that's not a bad piece of advice Teg. I don't want to be dropping this pan again.. no sir!

sandman2234 · Mar 11, 2009

I would leave the "good" one alone. Like you said earlier, fix it when you make that mistake again (Or another mistake on that pan of a different sort?)
I still stand by my welding a nut to the outside of the pan, and using the same (or a same as replacement) plug again.
A local welder could do it in just a few minutes, less than it takes to find one.
David from jax

dsgsr · Mar 11, 2009

Buy the new pan, save the old and fix at your convenience for a spare. Never know when you mite hit a stump or some other object and put a good size dent in the belly pan. I replaced my belly pan ($410.00 usd) not because of a dent but the vibration over time cracked the walls around the bolt holes, can't be use again until figure out how to weld.

David

banjodunn · Mar 12, 2009

G'day go and have a yarn to your local auto garage ( preferably one that has been around for a while ) there used to be kits available over here that had oversize plugs and the taps to fit them but havent seen them around for a while (they were the days when we would fix things not just replace ) if you can't find them then you can always use a short 1/2" or 14mm fine thread bolt with copper washer and tap the hole to suit, does work have done it, the use of a helicoil thread repair probably not going to work due to the thin material you are working with, also the idea of useing a fine thread compared to coarse is that you get more thread contact with a fine thread anyhow enough of my raving GOOD LUCK

Sackett2 · Mar 12, 2009

I've used over-sized plugs on very successfully on several occasions. like anything you have to use common sense. It is a plug with the ability to re cut slightly larger threads as it goes in. They are sized based upon your starting plug size and threads; IE you can go 1 or 2 sizes over depending how bad it is stripped. Make sure it goes in strait. As long at there is meat around the hole, and most pans have a reinforcement ring anyway, the pan would never know the difference. it is no different than tapping it and putting in a plug for that tap, but you don't have to spend $$ on a one time use tap.
Once the pan is off, any machine shop should be able to repair it; but I would have tried the oversized one first

greenmule · Mar 12, 2009

Alloy,what do you mean by alloy? What kinda alloy do you think it is? Bet its either cast iron or cast steel,I'd bet just plain old steel.

Generally speaking,when you say alloy steel,you're talking steel with chrome,copper,nickle,etc,in it.

canoetrpr · Mar 14, 2009

Got the job done today. Thank you everybody for your suggestions and your moral support.

I feel a heck of a lot better about not buying a new pan for this.

I drilled out the holes and tapped a 1/2" threads. My neighbour helped me out. Felt darn good to tap those threads. I decided to go ahead and do the second hole as well primarily because I was having fun and cause I had picked up a second drain bolt anyway.

The biggest pain in the rear was taking off the propeller shaft and then putting it back on again. I hit one snag putting it on (well several but could not get past this one). The shaft cover is held in place with with a spring pin - the last one of three I had to hammer in. I could not for the life of me get it all the way in. Its holding the cover in place well enough for now but my guess is that I damaged one end of it taking it out. I think I'll get a new one at the dealer on monday.

I also did not use any gasket goo. No leaks so far. Everything looks good.

Thanks again for the help.