Stuck drain plug...

[bw4sale]

Sometimes it is the simplest of things that go all wrong. When I bought the truck it wasn't running. So, I've gotten it running and now I need to change the oil, but the drain plug head is rounded off (thanks po). So, after a full weekend of trying every pair of vice grips I had I decided I would try to square it up a bit with the grinder so the vice grips would get enough bite to stay. No luck. It is so tight that the vice grips won't even break it. They just slip off no matter how tight I get them . Any suggestions? I'm stuck.

[lilpup69chevy]

i'd drop the pan and change it if you can't get it out, although first i'd try a hammer and chisel on it first just chisel into it like your trying to loosen it and see what happens just kinda hard to do it under the truck, i've used this technique on rounded flywheel bolts and it works, give that a shot if all else fails an oil pan from a junkyard will be cheap and chances are the main seals need replaced anyways

[Yukon Jack]

Weld a nut on it. The heat ought to break it loose.

[FarmTruk]

1. Spray repeatedly with penetrating oil...
2. Grind slot w/dremel or similar in center for big-a** screwdriver...
3. Apply heat to expand surrounding pan threads...
4. Cuss a lot...
5. Unscrew with aforementioned big-a** screwdriver...

Should come right off. Sounds easy enough, doesn't it?

[watahyahknow]

watch out with the welder i got an oilfire once trying to weld a nut on there .
you could try to square it once more and make it fit intoo a 12 point socket
(hammertime) if that fails i would go with the thing farmtruck came up with

[Sport/Truck]

I’m going to say not to drop the pan. I’m in that boat right now (and it’s sinking). I tried to drop the pan and it can’t come out with out lifting the engine etc. I ended up pulling the motor. I don’t think you want to go there for a stupid drain plug.
Unless you wanted to replace seals etc. (like I did, just not at first).
I like the heat idea. Use lots of penetrating oil Gibbs oil, Kroil (sp) or PB blaster all should work fine.
I think welding a flat bar to it would heat it, and give you something to turn it with.
s/t

[rodnok1]

I would try hammering a socket on it first, if it's too gobbered up to have a socket stay on, grind it down to a smaller size and use a six point socket, if still no go weld a nut on, but clean the area well and grind all the paint/crap off.

[cdowns]

you can always drill and tap it and install a petcock// i find it alot easier to remove the pan and work on a bench. easy to do and the engine needs to only be lifted 3inches

[bw4sale]

Thanks for the input. What about an extractor? You know the kind where you drill a hole in the middle of it and then you that to get it out. Would it work or is that not strong enough?

i don't have a welder. Would jb weld be strong enough if I fixed a nut on there with that?

[LawMan02]

How about trying a small pipe wrench.

[bw4sale]

the engine needs to only be lifted 3inches

I dropped the pan on my dad's 85 and replace the oil pump without lifting the motor any. I guess this isn't the case with the '72? I actually suspect that the engine may have been swapped for a later model. The carburator is an '83 by the numbers. I haven't checked the block numbers yet. Would that make any difference on dropping the pan?

[71swb4x4]

It's the crossmember that causes problems. It's not tough to lift it. Pull the engine mount bolts, and lift it from the top with a engine hoist. You should be able to get it up enough to slip the pan off. Replace the pan gasket with a one-piece.

[Sport/Truck]

An easy out extractor would work, but remember when you drill the hole you are going to flow oil over everything drill etc. if you got that route, use the biggest easy out possible so you don’t take a chance breaking it off.
When I tried to remove my oil pan it would hit the auto trans. If I lifted my motor a little I could have taken it off, but what a PITA that would have been.
I figured if I already was going to undo the motor mounts it wasn’t that much more to take the engine out (in my case) because I had the radiator out, and everything else out. it really was just a matter of a few wires and bolts.
Did you try heating it?
s/t

[70c10swb]

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

Craftsman bolt out, I have this and works great imo

[fastwillie 696969]

changing oil might be the worst thing to do for a rusty old engine

[chopper103in]

Originally Posted by 70c10swb

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

Craftsman bolt out, I have this and works great imo

i have a set of these and they are the best i found for rounded off bolts

[truckdude239]

and no jbweld will not be strong enough

[jimfulco]

Originally Posted by LawMan02

How about trying a small pipe wrench.

I used one of those with a cheater pipe on a Toyota that had made one too many trips to the local oil change emporium and one too many trips to Vise-grip City.

[bw4sale]

I don't really have a good way to heat it. thanks for all the advice. Hopefully something will work soon.

[71swb4x4]

A propane torch would work, and they are cheap at Wal-Mart. You can use the style that are used for plumbing copper pipe.
You would be amazed at how much heat helps with stuck bolts.

[PanelDeland]

I vote for the pipe wrench.I have taken bolts out that had to be much tighter than an oil drain plug in a sheetmetal oil pan.Heat will help too.

"OR" you could take it to the oil change place! J/K

[rage'nrat638]

i say use a drimmel and cut a slot for a flat blade and then use a impact screwdriver... that will turn it

[jamesi20]

Go to sears and get a set of those bolt out extractors! $$ well spent and you will have them for future jobs...they do work

[bobthecop]

Be careful, my son, gorilla arms, got one loose on his '69, only the weld inside the pan broke. Had to replace the pan anyway.

[bw4sale]

"OR" you could take it to the oil change place! J/K

Ha! The thought actually did cross my mind at one point. Let them wrestle with it.

Too cold today to be up under a truck, so I'll have to wait till it warms up a little.