Retapping Oil Pan Z51
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Utah
Retapping Oil Pan Z51
In my genius I guess last time I changed my oil on my 15 Z51 I over torqued the side drain plug and stripped the pan. Today when changing it all the threads came out with the plug, yea yea laugh at me 😭. I’m gonna retap the hole, but, my tap and die set is too long and the oil cooler core is blocking it so I can’t get it straight into the hole. Can I easily drop the core momentarily to tap the hole? Or if someone has a recommendation on a tap and die short enough to get up into the space.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Utah
yea idk how I even did it. I always hand tighten with a ratchet and then like 1 more quarter turn. That’s how I tightened the front drain plug and that one is fine. Just need to get the cooler core out of the way to tap the hole
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 49,186
Likes: 3,885
From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
This. If “the threads came out with the plug” as the OP described retapping it won’t fix it unless you also use a larger plug.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Utah
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 164
Likes: 125
From: Eagle River, WI
If you are not familiar with using Helicoils, do some research. It will be far superior than just re- tapping the aluminum to a larger size. Essentially, you will be doing that anyway. A Helicoil kit will come with a drill bit, tap and inset tool with steel inserts that won’t strip out in the future. And you will be able to use the original size drain plug. You will be drilling it larger to install the insert. This has been an industry standard for decades. Some companies install Helicoils in aluminum parts , when they are manufactured for the exact reason of a more robust and secure thread. Some cylinder heads have Helicoils spark plug inserts. The aircraft industry uses them for many applications. If you take your time and do it correctly, it will be there forever, with no further issues.
CF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 14,090
Likes: 7,392
From: Pittsburgh
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I agree with post #9, a helicoil is the way to go for this repair
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,530
Likes: 5,113
From: Chester VA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,006
Likes: 909
From: near philly
huh? Wasn't this posted yesterday?
anyway, if you are trying to NOT remove the cooler you could always use a tap with a very short thread length (some are less than an inch) and cut the shank and just
grind flats back on what's left and make a super short tap.
Even if you go the heli coil route (not necessary but fine) you still have to tap it so either way you need to do that unless you can get that cooler out of there.
anyway, if you are trying to NOT remove the cooler you could always use a tap with a very short thread length (some are less than an inch) and cut the shank and just
grind flats back on what's left and make a super short tap.
Even if you go the heli coil route (not necessary but fine) you still have to tap it so either way you need to do that unless you can get that cooler out of there.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Utah
huh? Wasn't this posted yesterday?
anyway, if you are trying to NOT remove the cooler you could always use a tap with a very short thread length (some are less than an inch) and cut the shank and just
grind flats back on what's left and make a super short tap.
Even if you go the heli coil route (not necessary but fine) you still have to tap it so either way you need to do that unless you can get that cooler out of there.
anyway, if you are trying to NOT remove the cooler you could always use a tap with a very short thread length (some are less than an inch) and cut the shank and just
grind flats back on what's left and make a super short tap.
Even if you go the heli coil route (not necessary but fine) you still have to tap it so either way you need to do that unless you can get that cooler out of there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 731
