Hello Paul-
So the cause of my leaking oil has been found. I have determined that
quite a few of the tapped oil pan bolt holes in AL parts have been
stripped. I have not surveyed all the bolts - I'll be pulling the
engine off again to do that on Tuesday. But I did find 4 already that
are stripped. I pulled the bolts out & they are fine. But when
inserted, they cannot be torqued to the spec - they spin & spin...
So I suppose I could thin some JB Weld and re-tap the holes, but given
my tapping skills, that sounds like a recipe for disaster. I was
thinking instead of cutting the heads off of some appropriately
sized AN
bolts, flooding the bolt holes with JBWeld, and then inserting the
bolts
head-side first. Since the pan only calls for ~ 8fp of torqued, I
figure this is a simple and reliable way to get studs for the stripped
holes that I can then put metal stop-nuts on to secure the pan.
Comments?
Mark (Rocky Mtn High)
You must of read my mind. I was just thinking about your engine.
No no don't do that. Get some helicoils and a special tap.
I am sure you can do it if you use the proper drill.
Use google to check for the drill sizes.
McMaster also gives the drill sizes on the web site.
http://www.emhart.com/products/helicoil.asp
http://www.roadstarmagazine.com/modules.php?
name=News&file=article&sid=233
In Mcmaster Carr speak they are called "Helical Inserts".
Available in both metric and English sizes. Come in a kit with the
drill
and special tap. I think those pan bolts are 6 mm.
Also "Thread Inserts" that require a some what larger installation
holes.
Other than the oil leak how is the p-port engine running.
Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.
I have also found several stripped threads in the same location. If
the holes are already stripped, then helicoils are the answer.
Small threads in aluminum are easy to strip. I think it would be a
good idea to run a clean out tap whenever reinserting these bolts and
use a torque wrench. Jerry
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