Having Fun at Every Turn - Oil Plug Destroyed

[kmakar]

So, I saw the oil pan on the Starfire was a little crumpled (it is a low riding car), but I go to drain the oil in preparation of pulling the oil pan so I can pull the timing cover which has 3 snapped bolts which I have to drill and helicoil, when I see the plug has been obviously ripped out at some point and a self tapping huge plug put in it's place (and it's leaking).

So I'm at a crossroads as to what to do. I can straighten the pan easily, but should I weld the bung shut, and redrill and tap it to put the stock plug back in or should I try and fix what's there?

I'm not keen on the way it looks, nor do I feel it's secure in holding oil in the block. Has anyone ever seen a bung repair kit that can be tig welded in place?

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

It may be time to yank the engine and reseal it

 

[kmakar]

It may be time to yank the engine and reseal it

I know where the main leaks are coming from already (valve covers) and already have new gaskets on the way for that, but I'm trying hard not to have to pull the engine. The more I pull apart the harder it gets finding even replacement parts (used is even hard to find).

I did find some weldable bungs and I may go that route. Once I pull the pan I'll know more, but I can also weld the hole shut, build up the weld on the pan and drill and re-tap it to put the stock plug back in.

I also can't buy the driver's side trans mount, and since most of the torque is pulling on the driver's side, I think I'm going to pull the mount, fab one out of steel, and put a solid one in on that side for now. I can buy the standard trans mounts, but for some weird reason, the '63 & '64 convertibles had different mounts, and you can't get them anywhere, so I'm building as I go.

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

So the oil pan will clear the cross member for removal?

 

[kmakar]

So the oil pan will clear the cross member for removal?

Once I drop the centerlink and jack the front of the block up, yes.

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

Once I drop the centerlink and jack the front of the block up, yes.

IDK, I would already have that thing swinging on the engine hoist.

 

[kmakar]

IDK, I would already have that thing swinging on the engine hoist.

I have to be very careful as it's very hard to get even used parts for it. I'm trying to go as minimal as possible to hopefully stave off any damages I can't get parts for.

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

I have to be very careful as it's very hard to get even used parts for it. I'm trying to go as minimal as possible to hopefully stave off any damages I can't get parts for.

I agree. Sometimes it is just easier to have it in front of you on a stand than to be fighting with it in car.

When you are in Burlington, NC there are a couple of shops, IDK how much crosses over if any:

Quality Impala Parts from Hubbard Impala Parts

Hubbard Impala Parts has been selling high quality impala parts since 1993.

www.impalaparts.com

www.chevelle.com (Ausley's chevelle)

 

[kmakar]

Good news, Pat McMillan has a good oil pan (in fact 6 of them), and now he's looking for the trans mounts for me (and the difference between the '63/'64 convertible and hardtop).

 

[Nashville Cat]

Excellent ! You found a supplier ! Just like TC https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/

 

[kmakar]

Excellent ! You found a supplier ! Just like TC https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/

Oh, I'd already been there some time ago, but the only guy who has parts for the Starfire is Pat McMillan out of Chicago, and I've already spend a fair bit of money with him.... Spoke to him this morning and he was even surprised about the trans mounts when he looked in his parts catalog. I've already been ordering new parts from Fusick Automotive in CT, but there is a very limited supply of parts for the Starfire since it was an expensive car that not many bought.

 

[kmakar]

Finally got most of the front dirt/oil/grease cleaned up enough to pull the harmonic balancer, but this is going to require some serious pressure washing.....

BTW I got a 5 gallon bucket worth of dirt and grime off the frame and bottom of the engine.....

 

[77cruiser]

Maybe it needs a 455?

 

[kmakar]

Maybe it needs a 455?

It's a numbers matching all original convertible, so I want to keep it that way for resale value. I plan on fixing it, enjoying it for a bit, then selling it.

I like to fix them more than I like to keep them (I like the challenge). I'm going to start looking for a '66 Impala SS when I sell this one. That one I'll keep.

 

[77cruiser]

I probably knew that but it was worth a shot.

 

[Nashville Cat]

It's a numbers matching all original convertible, so I want to keep it that way for resale value. I plan on fixing it, enjoying it for a bit, then selling it.

I like to fix them more than I like to keep them (I like the challenge). I'm going to start looking for a '66 Impala SS when I sell this one. That one I'll keep.

A convertible like in "Holiday Ride" ?

Is that front water pump an aluminum casting ? I helped a friend install a new water pump on an old Buick
and a bolt stripped and then the corner of the casting broke as we tried to remove it !
I put it back together with JB weld and it never gave any trouble.

 

[kmakar]

A convertible like in "Holiday Ride" ?

Is that front water pump an aluminum casting ? I helped a friend install a new water pump on an old Buick
and a bolt stripped and then the corner of the casting broke as we tried to remove it !
I put it back together with JB weld and it never gave any trouble.

Exactly like the "Holiday Ride". I've been looking for years and it has eluded me.

That's aluminum, but it's also the timing cover. I figured I was this far into it, I may as well replace the timing chain and gears. I'm going to drill and helicoil the 3 broken bolts.
I supposed I could use JB weld, but I'd know better and I can't honestly say it was fixed properly when I sell the car. I already bought a used timing cover just in case, but that one needs to be cleaned, polished, and painted (same for the original one in the car now).

 

[Alan F]

The trouble you’re having here reminds me of my old Jeep project. About 6 years ago I bought a cheap Jeep CJ5 to bring back to life. It was “rode hard and put up wet”. I never got so dirty. That thing was abused badly and repairs were poor. It took a lot more than I expected. I’d still have it if they weren’t so small inside. It had that V6 Buick engine which I was attracted to. I never suffered so many broken bolts on one project.

 

[kmakar]

The trouble you’re having here reminds me of my old Jeep project. About 6 years ago I bought a cheap Jeep CJ5 to bring back to life. It was “rode hard and put up wet”. I never got so dirty. That thing was abused badly and repairs were poor. It took a lot more than I expected. I’d still have it if they weren’t so small inside. It had that V6 Buick engine which I was attracted to. I never suffered so many broken bolts on one project.

I'm way deeper into this than I wanted to be, and the lady who sold the car to me didn't really know any better as she paid others to take car of it for her, so I don't blame her.

I figured I'd have to fix a few things, but this is way more than I anticipated. As of yesterday in parts, I'm 4k in parts now, but luckily I got a great deal on the car, so I'm still way ahead in the game (plus I really enjoy fixing and putting it back together).

 

[kmakar]

Got the pan and the timing cover off. Block looks pretty clean inside with no buildup or sludge, but I'm guessing the valve covers and the timing cover seal were leaking pretty bad.

I also have the dreaded nylon gears, and the timing chain is pretty sloppy.