Tapping Oil Pan
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
From: Brunswick OH
Tapping Oil Pan
I had a question for the people that tapped their oil pans for the Vortech install.
How thick is the wall of the oil pan? and how many threads are you able to cut? Does the 3/8" connection feel snug? or has anyone had any problems. It doesn't seem like the pan is wide enough to allow that many threads.
Thanks
How thick is the wall of the oil pan? and how many threads are you able to cut? Does the 3/8" connection feel snug? or has anyone had any problems. It doesn't seem like the pan is wide enough to allow that many threads.
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,476
Likes: 718
From: Black Forest CO
I never measured the thickness but it is plenty thick enough to get a tight leak free connection. I have had zero leaks and I tapped mine 3 years ago.
Originally Posted by Watch22
I had a question for the people that tapped their oil pans for the Vortech install.
How thick is the wall of the oil pan? and how many threads are you able to cut? Does the 3/8" connection feel snug? or has anyone had any problems. It doesn't seem like the pan is wide enough to allow that many threads.
Thanks
How thick is the wall of the oil pan? and how many threads are you able to cut? Does the 3/8" connection feel snug? or has anyone had any problems. It doesn't seem like the pan is wide enough to allow that many threads.
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,353
Likes: 22
From: Bella Vista Ca
I think it was a good 1/8 inch thick. You use a pipe thread tap for the threads which get larger in diameter as you thread it in to the pan further. (The fitting that came with the A&A Vortech kit was a pipe thread fitting so it fit very snug). It will not come out on its own.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 311
Likes: 2
From: Oppdal Norway
Some pics on my site where i drilled the holes (twinturbo). It's thin, but doable!
Link in sig
http://spaces.msn.com/motormaniac/photos/?_c02_owner=1
Roger
Link in sig
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Roger
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
as someone mentioned it tapers so it gets plenty tight. I drained my oil, put some grease on auger bit to catch chips, then poured old oilback in to flushout anything that was inside pan , put fitting in and newe oil .
Platinum Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,730
Likes: 270
From: VENTURA Ca
The pan is plenty thick enough to support the fitting. People get scared because of the horror stories from years ago when we had sheet metal oil pans.
I supply a "Roto Broach" to cut the pan. This is very much like a small hole saw. It cuts a small circle rather than drills a hole. If you're very careful you can stop just before the saw cuts through the back side of the pan. The small piece of aluminum that's left in the middle of the circle can be pulled out with a small pick. You don't get a bunch of shavings in the pan.
Pack some grease in the tap and keep pulling it out every couple of turns to clean it off, and you won't get much in the pan from the tap either.
Then I get a bent Q Tip with some grease on it and dab around inside the pan to pick up any small chips that may have gone astray.
Remember that the pickup screen in the pan has a very fine mesh and won't allow anything that would hurt the motor through anyway.
If you're still scared after all this, I can supply you with a dipstick tube that has a drain welded into it. No drilling is required at all with this setup. The pan drain is recommended as it is 1/2" as opposed to 3/8" and drains better.
I supply a "Roto Broach" to cut the pan. This is very much like a small hole saw. It cuts a small circle rather than drills a hole. If you're very careful you can stop just before the saw cuts through the back side of the pan. The small piece of aluminum that's left in the middle of the circle can be pulled out with a small pick. You don't get a bunch of shavings in the pan.
Pack some grease in the tap and keep pulling it out every couple of turns to clean it off, and you won't get much in the pan from the tap either.
Then I get a bent Q Tip with some grease on it and dab around inside the pan to pick up any small chips that may have gone astray.
Remember that the pickup screen in the pan has a very fine mesh and won't allow anything that would hurt the motor through anyway.
If you're still scared after all this, I can supply you with a dipstick tube that has a drain welded into it. No drilling is required at all with this setup. The pan drain is recommended as it is 1/2" as opposed to 3/8" and drains better.
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NOW PARTNERING WITH AFFIRM TO OFFER INTEREST FREE FINANCING!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,251
Likes: 4
That rotabraoch is the best bar none, hole cutter. Every tool box needs one of these kits.
I just tapped both sides in 45 minutes using the 9/16" rotabroach and a 3/8 NTP Tap and here's the sequence. Just one hint for drilling. Center punch the spot you want to drill. Lube up a 1/8" drill bit and drill a pilot hole. Then stick the rotabroach pin in the hole and start cutting. When you break through, the plug will(should) stay on the pin as mine did. Here's the end result with the plug on the right (the pan is 0.21" thick).
A perfect hole with a 3/8" drill. Notice, all the shavings and chips are outside where they belong.
The 9/16" bit is a hair bit smaller than the 37/64" bit called for but the pan is soft Aluminum and easily taps as it should with a socket wrench.
The finished product
I hope this help those of you who need to do this still.
IQ
I just tapped both sides in 45 minutes using the 9/16" rotabroach and a 3/8 NTP Tap and here's the sequence. Just one hint for drilling. Center punch the spot you want to drill. Lube up a 1/8" drill bit and drill a pilot hole. Then stick the rotabroach pin in the hole and start cutting. When you break through, the plug will(should) stay on the pin as mine did. Here's the end result with the plug on the right (the pan is 0.21" thick).
A perfect hole with a 3/8" drill. Notice, all the shavings and chips are outside where they belong.
The 9/16" bit is a hair bit smaller than the 37/64" bit called for but the pan is soft Aluminum and easily taps as it should with a socket wrench.
The finished product
I hope this help those of you who need to do this still.
IQ
Last edited by IM QUIKR; Mar 11, 2006 at 01:51 PM.