transmission Pan Bummer

[Rosco]

I was putting on my extra capacity trans pan that I took off my old truck today and then it happened. I was tightning the second to last bolt and it stripped the threads out of the trans housing. Now, I am upset because everything went right up until then. I did not spill any fluid draining the old pan, I was using a tourqe wrench set at the pan manufactures specifications and it still pulled the threads out. I finished tightning the last bolt with a regular ratchet, filled the transmission, and took it out for a spin. So far it doesn't appear to leaking and I hope it won't start to. But, it totally bum's me out to know that even though I followed the directions to the letter I still gaffed my new girl up.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

It's pretty easy to install a thread repair kit in and make it like new again!

 

[4xquadrod]

I don't know if this is your case but sometimes after market pans or replacement pans have a thicker flange area and require longer bolts. Putting stock bolts would mean you have less threads and will pull easier.

 

[Rosco]

The pan came with longer bolts to compensate for the thicker flange which makes me wonder if my tourqe wrench is out of calibration. On a positive note I rechecked the pan today and I still don't see any fluid weeping but I will keep an eye to it. If it does leak I will do the thread repair kit as mentioned above by Gary.

 

[MidwestMotorman]

Are you using an inch pounds torque wrench? Torque wrenches are usually off calibration, at least 10%, in the upper and lower ranges. So using a ft lbs wrench could be overkill.

 

[Rosco]

The pan manufactuer specified the bolt tourqe to be 18 ft/lbs and that is what I set the wrench to. I used a craftsman "click" type wrench. I have heard that their wrenches aren't very accurate so I may invest in a Snap-On or Mac wrench down the road if I have a couple hundred dollars to blow.

 

[Prairie Dog]

That sucks! I doubt it was the torque wrench though as they tend to under-torque when they get older, not over torque (assuming it's not brand new). Is it a thru hole? Maybe you can still put in a longer bolt.

 

[Rosco]

Prairie Dog, I assume you mean the threads come out the top of an open bolt hole when you say "thru hole" but unfourtunetly this is not one of those. On this one the threads dead end in the housing. I Just checked the pan before I logged on and it still is dry so I maybe lucky. However, I am going to keep all the suggestions you fellows gave me just in case it does leak.

 

[TBOB]

torn threads

I'M SURE THE PAN WILL STAY ON SO TRY CLEANING WITH PAINT THINNER AND APPLY SILICONE TO THE AREA, IT ALWAYS WORKS FOR ME. MY ENGINE OIL PAN STARTED TO LEAK, ALTHOUGH THE PAN BOLTS WERE TIGHT, CLEANED AND SILICONED AREA UNDER STARTER 6 MONTHS AGO, NO LEAK. TBOB

 

[jimnance]

If there is enough "meat" to drill into you could drill and tap one size larger bollt. Also, a shop could drill and install a heli-coil.



A cheaper alternative is to clean the stripped hole very well and then fill the hole with JB Weld. Once cured, drill and tap to the original size. Be careful not to overtighten the bolt installed in that hole.

 

[krabman]

You dont need a shop to install a heli coil. The kit comes with the little dealie that screws in the coil and the tap and bit should be pretty easy items to borrow if not on hand. Thats what I would do even though it isnt leaking. Its a job that takes longer to get the tools out than it does to do and I would want the peace of mind. Of course I may be too paranoid but I earned my paranoia working with this kind of thing over the years.

 

[bmoeller]

My boss used a product to repair a messed- up bolt hole in a head. It was simular J-B Weld. I think all you had to do was to drill the hole to the proper size, mix the 2 part steel/hardener, put some in the hole or on the bolt after putting a releasing agent on the bolt, let it set up, and remove the bolt. Then you won't have to redrill the hole and tap it since the threads will be there already from the bolt.

 

[sag2]

The torque spec for the pan bolts in the service manual is 13 ft/lb. Assuming your torque wrench is correct you still over torqued by 40%. The JB weld type thread repair does work, but be sure to adhere to the max torque spec on the package. It is not as high as a good thread or helicoil. If using a helicoil in a blind hole stop by the dealer or trans shop and look at a torqueflite first and see what is behind the hole. You have to have a long enough hole for the helicoil tap to go deep enough to insert the insert completely. Learned the hard way on my motorhome front pump bolt.