My sump plug has always felt like the thread had been damaged by a previous owner so I'm always very careful when tightening it up.

However at todays oil change it finally stripped totally.

I understand it can be heli-coil repaired on the car if the operator knows what they are doing and that would be my preference.

If anyone has any suggestions as to places that are experienced in doing this in Sydney or Wollongong please PM me.

Thanks.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

I don't think I like the look of that.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

They did say it was temporary. It sure looks temporary.

I found with my 1100 that when the thread stripped there was still thread past where it stripped. So I went through my extensive sump plug collection and picked the one with the longest thread and found that it picked up on the next bit of thread. So I am being careful till I change the gearbox.

Helicoiling isn't hard at all. Most Mechanics would (should) be able to do it.

If you want to have a crack yourself, all you need to do is buy a helicoil kit the right size... should come with....

- the helicoils
- special tap for the helicoils
- tool for screwing in the new helicoils
- and some times if your lucky the right size pre-drilling drill bit

All you need to do is:
1. pre-drill the hole the right size (see the packet),

2. then using cutting lube, run the tap provided into the hole (careful it goes in square... do it by hand if you've never tapped anyting before.... give it 1 turn and back it off half a turn so that you keep clearing the swarf with out breaking the tap)

3. Wind the helicoil in using the tool provided and once in place, snap off the tang and bob's your uncle



I'll point out,,, I've never done this on a car thats assembled... I've only ever done it on bare cases... I don't know how you'd go keeping swarf out of your gearbox case.

I think the experts would use grease on the tap to collect the swarf and then they flush remaining swarf out with thin oil.

Well,, good thing I said to use cutting lube then hey "greasing the tap" isn't going to help you much with your pre-drilling sadly.

You're probably right, you probably would be able flush most of the crap out with oil. Bummer it trickles down so slow from the head and doesn't torent through. Could go through a bit of oil, and you could be there for a while. But, doing it on an assembled motor your guess is as good as mine.

Thanks Phat Kat,

I understand how helicoils work and have seen them used and would maybe have a go if the gearbox was off the car.

I believe there are techniques for keeping the swarf to a minimum and then flushing it out.

I also now know where the little bits of curved alloy have been coming from at each oil change.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

Another way of doing it is to fit a plug in a plug kind of like this...



I have seen some with a tapered thread on the outer bit to make it self sealing and not rely on a washer to seal.

Minisport SA sell these...

No worries....

As for keeping the swarf down... sorry... when you make the hole bigger, you're removing material.... its gotta go somewhere, same as when your tapping. The action flutes on the drill do tend to push most of it out of the hole,,, with the tap, because they have chip breakers and not a continuous flute, the swarf just gets stuck between the relief's.... if you're using something heavy like Trefolex or heavy Rocol, most of it would stick to the tap, yes, but you just can't garrentee it... flushing it out with thin oil probably is your best bet (as far as I can see).

But hey, if you want to take it to someone trust worthy who's probably done in on mini's in the syd to gong area,, Glen at mini king would be able to do it for you no worries.

edit: the funny little bits that come out on oil changes are probably from your synco's

I was forced to do this on the car once.

Luckily, as the tap is being driven in by hand, the swarf is not flung anywhere. It stays at the bottom on the tap or on the outside edge of the sump hole. I was able to use my finger to clean the bulk of the swarf out from the hole, once I had it clean as I could get it then used a paper towel and turps to clean the area carefully without pushing anything in further. I suppose you could flush turps down the dip[stick if you wanted to flush that through the bottom of the case.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Yep, I'm a regular at MiniKing and I had them in mind for sure. Yeah realise syncros also leave non magnetic swarf but I'm sure half has been the sump thead. Little curved pieces. And plug was always loose-tight-loose as it went in.

Cheers

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

My repair :
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic ... &highlight

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"Boris" - '69 Cooper S Mk 2

Thanks, I think I like that idea better than a Helicoil. Where do to get the bush from or did you get it made up.

If I get hold of a bush who would you suggest could do this on car for me, I don't really feel confident enough to do it myself on the car.

Cheers

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)