What to do

[OldRedFord]

Ok I replaced my oil pan gasket with a one piece rubber and steel one.

When I was putting it together for the second time I stripped out the 1/4 hole in the front cover for one of the bolts.

I would like to avoid dropping the pan again if I can.

I tried to run a 5/16 tap in the hole but I could not get it to start square, and can not get a tap handle on it either with the pan on.

I had to take the pan off the second time after I changed the gasket out because when I was rolling the motor right side up on the engine stand the oil pump shaft fell out of the oil pump and when the engine was upright it fell back in but missed the pump....


Sucks sometimes always working on things with no help.

[OldRedFord]

Here is what I ended up doing

Went down to Ace hardware and got a 12" piece of 1/4" square bar.
Used a socket that fit the tap and then put my tap handle on the bar.

Tried to clean up the threads in the hole but no luck.

So after that I got a longer 1/4" bolt and ran it through and put a nut on the other end. Problem solved.

[hazelnut]

how did your oilpump shaft fall out when you rolled the motor over ? There should be a washer on the shaft to keep it from being able to come up out of the pump. the washer goes to the topside and is made to keep the shaft from coming up out of the pump. youll have to unbolt the oilpump to put the shaft in, if the dizzy is out look to make sure the shaft is in the center hole,if its not pull the dizzy to check. push the oilpump up to the block and see if the shaft goes up and down 1/8th or so to be sure it wont come out. tighten the bolts and youll never have to worry about the shaft droping in the pan again.