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well crap...

R

RustyRed

Active Member
I had a couple of tranny pan bolts that appeared to be leaking a little so I decided to snug them up a little.

I have the trick flow pan so I wasn't worried about bending the pan holes but I was hardly cranking down really hard on one of the bolts when snap...it broke on me.

Any thoughts re: how to get the rest of the bolt out of the hole?

Managed to back it out some because of the way it broke it sort of "catches" if you turn the head part of the bolt just right. I backed it out roughly 1/4 of an inch but then my arms got tired. Might try some more tomorrow but what then if that won't get it out?
 
If you were able to get it out 1/4", it should be plenty easy to clamp onto it with vice-grips and spin the rest out.
 
I watched a guy back out a broken off antenna mast (threaded type) that was broken off below the surface with a engraving tool (vibrating type like you mark tools with) and a small pick. Pretty cool.

Ran the engraver lightly on the broken stud and the point of the pick to turn it. The vibration from the engraver apparently makes the bolt/stud float in the threads.

I can almost always get them out using an automatic center punch. Using the broken edge as a contact point and slowly walking it out.

These methods do not work on cross-threaded bolts.
 
I was thinking about it today and I think what I am going to do is take the pan off and put the vice grips or plyers on it.

I already have about 11 extra bolts sitting on the work bench since I had the same pan on my old transmission.

Interestingly enough, even with the head of the one bolt missing...I took it for a fast spin around the block and it has zero leaks now...I am really half tempted to just leave it alone, LOL!

Actually, I am thinking of taking it to the local cruise in tonight. Figured if it leaked a drop or two I don't care. Just took it for a spin to make sure it wasn't flowing like a river out of there.

O'Reilly didn't have the gasket in stock but should be here tomorrow. I'll probably go ahead and pull the pan off either tomorrow or some night this coming week to get it fixed but in the mean time it doesn't seem to be leaking in any way that would concern me for just taking it ten minutes up the road to the local Saturday night meet.
 
My question is why did it snap in the first place? Something in the hole? Maybe you should chase all the threads of the pan to see if something is up. If my memory serves, isnt this a craigslist trans?
 
"lethal289" said:
My question is why did it snap in the first place? Something in the hole? Maybe you should chase all the threads of the pan to see if something is up. If my memory serves, isnt this a craigslist trans?
Click to expand...

Yes and no on the craigs list...bought it off a local guy I know but basically the same thing.

Rest of the bolts seem fine, not sure exactly why this one snapped. Could just be a weak or worn bolt?

O'Reilly didn't have the gasket but should be in tomorrow...I plan to take the pan off at some point and remove the rest of the old bolt.

Are you thinking I should try to re-thread that hole?
 
If it don't leak and you can live with knowing it's broken, leave it alone until next time you service the trans.
 
"RustyRed" said:
Are you thinking I should try to re-thread that hole?
Click to expand...

No, not re-thread as in tap and die. However Similar, a chase wont cut new threads just clean existing ones. You could always just a run a new bolt in and see if it works well. Heres a chase.

040210261.jpg
 
"Sluggo" said:
If it don't leak and you can live with knowing it's broken, leave it alone until next time you service the trans.
Click to expand...

I don't really care if it's broken to be honest...not like anyone can see it under there. My fear would be hitting a big bump and it coming loose and starting to leak. But I don't think that is very likely with only one bolt out.... the last time I took the pan off my old transmission I had to pry pretty darn hard to get it off and actually for a while was starting to wonder if I was going to get the darn thing loose.

I am usually game for a project especially a fairly straight forward one like replacing a pan gasket. However, I dropped the boys at a friends house today so they could swim and I thought about working on the Mustang while I was driving home. Then I noticed the Explorer was reading 97 or so outside and I said screw it paid some bills and took a nap. Maybe one evening after the sun goes down and it cools off some...

Lethal...I don't have a chase but I'll look around and try to find one (Sears?). Might trying putting one of the extra bolts in there first though to see what it seems like going in and back out.
 
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