Thread: Chevy 350/350 Combo Annoying Tranny Drip

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rspears...
Yep razor blade and some fine , fine steel wool so it was as clean as I could get it. Funny you should mention the drill through angle. On this corner one of the holes was definitely a pass through so... we'll see if the Permatex does it's trick.
Thx,
Red

All... Found out after further review that one of the pass through bolt holes is stripped out bad.
Makes sense now that I think about all the junk/gunk that was slathered on the tranny pan when i did the fluid filter replacement.
So... does anyone on in the Dallas TX area know of a reputable Transmission Shop that I can get this (aluminum believe ) stripped hole repaired? I'm pretty sure this is our of my comfort zone.
Red 32

Any decent auto shop should be able to Helicoil that hole....fyi, a helicoil is a thread insert. It looks like it has threads on the inside AND the outside. The inside threads are the same size as your pan bolt. The outside thread size is a special size (larger than the pan bolt). You drill the existing hole slightly oversize and use a Helicoil tap to cut the new threads. Then, a special insertion tool is used to install the Helicoil thread insert. You buy a kit that has a drill bit, a helicoil tap, and an installation tool. You buy the size according to your desired bolt size....your pan is probably a 1/4-20 or a 5/16-18 OR a metric thread...they sell Helicoil kits in all sizes. Should take someone 15 minutes not including the gasket change.

Good advice on the heli-coil! Quick & Easy to do and as long as that hole doesn't go into the fluid reservoir above, you won't even have to drop the pan!

Mark the depth of the hole onto a probe or pencil and transfer that depth to the supplied drill bit - wrap a piece of electrical tape to indicate the desired depth as a stop.

Tap the new threads, insert the heli-coil ( I like adding a touch of thread locker to keep'em in place) and thread in the bolt - you're done!

HELI COIL. And permatex the threads.

Good luck

Guys...
SWEET! I really wanted to be the one to do the work cause it's my ride.
You guys have all been great to this newbie street rodder and I have certainly fallen in love with the grease under the nails and the satisfaction of doing it myself.
Blessings all!
Red 32

why not drill it to the next size and retap the hole.1/4 to 5/16????

Then he'll have an odd ball bolt.

Originally Posted by cffisher

why not drill it to the next size and retap the hole.1/4 to 5/16????

Good Point! IF you have the tap and the approprite drill bit. A lot of the heli-coil comes in a kit form.. But it may be cheaper to go the other way..

But to forever need a second wrench to take off the pan.... The agony.. you'll never be an OCD, perfectionist, hot rodder going that route.

Gee while your at the tool box grab two sockets instead of one. All you want to do is stop the leak not win a beauty contest

Originally Posted by rspears

Look immediately above the "spot" on the garage floor and see where it's coming from. Then clean everything in that area with carb cleaner, or something like that which will wash away oily residue and dry clean (wear safety glasses!! That stuff BURNS eyes!!).

Also burns lungs, use only in a well-ventilated area and avoid breathing vapors.

All...
Got the Helicoil installed and redid the cooling lines. Wa La!! Success! Thanks again for the right answers and thoughts on my issue.
Red

Thanks for reporting back.

Glad it worked out right, and like Charlie says, thanks for the update! Success stories are always welcome!!