Before going the helicoil route, you may want to try taking a dremel (or
other such rotary tool) and cut a slot across the bottom of the drain plug.
Then, using a large flat blade screw driver, give it a shot at taking out
the plug. If you're destroying the plug anyway, this is worth a shot. I only
like to go to a helicoil as a last resort.

Gregg
85 Westy (203k, new drain plug)

-----Original Message-----
From: Tony [mailto:tgerr95@YAHOO.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2001 1:43 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: oil plug woes

sounds like a plausible fix - please elaborate on the
part about the insert - is it a threaded insert?

Tony

PS

My mechanic buddy suggests warm engine, ice cube(2) on
the plug to cool it and try again

My shop mechanic says $40-50 to drill out, helicoil
and new threads to factory spec

--- MVAone@aol.com wrote:
> you are at the life sucks part. You should be able
> to get the plug out, the
> metal is really soft. I would have a machine shop
> make you an insert out of
> aluminum and lock tight it in. The helicoil that was
> in my van ended up
> inside the pan.  Tough to get out but I did it with
> a boroscope. Now have an
> insert and a standard plug. Piece o cake

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