V8S Sump plug

[Beast Master]

3 weeks ago I went to change the oil on my V8S and was shocked to find the the sump plug is a 29mm bung! WTF? I didn't own a 29mm spanner. Ships must have smaller sump plugs that that! :-)
And I can't get a socket on it as the exhaust in in the way.
So I ordered a long 29mm ring spanner and went back at it tonight. I'm a small bloke, but I should be able to undo a sump plug! Fully braced under the car and full body weight- not a budge. Linked another spanner onto the 29mm for extra leverage- didn't budge an inch.
So I left it in case I damage the sump seal or sump itself. I take it that this is not normal? What torque is the sump plug normally done up to? Should I just man up and give it everything and the sump will hold up?

[GreenV8S]

It's more likely to have been 1 9/16" or so.

It shouldn't need much torque - maybe 30 ft lbs or something like that. But perhaps somebody tried to reuse a sealing washer without annealing it and had to over torque it to stop it leaking.

[Beast Master]

Any downsides to me giving it the full beans? (apart from damaging the bolt head if the spanner slips)

I'll look at getting an imperial spanner next as there is a slight bit of play in the 29mm spanner. I looked it up and 1.1/8" is 28.57mm. So that is probably the best fit.

Edited by Beast Master on Tuesday 13th June 22:59

[GreenV8S]

Get a replacement plug first - one with a magnetic insert is recommended. It should come with a new copper washer.

Do whatever is necessary to get the plug out. If you let the spanner slip it can damage the plug and make it harder to get a good grip, so try to avoid that. You may need to use an adjustable spanner or even a pipe wrench to get a tight grip.

Obviously, be ready for the oil too.

[Beast Master]

Thanks. A few things to order so. :-)

[phillpot]

GreenV8S said:

You may need to use an adjustable spanner or even a pipe wrench to get a tight grip.

Seriously! Adjustable is worst thing to use (imho) Correct size spanner, ideally a ring if room to get it on.
I've read of sump plugs catching speed bumps and coming loose, even falling out, not good.
A search of old posts should bring up an alternative plug from a tractor if I remember correctly.

[Beast Master]

I hate adjustable spanners to be honest. Too easy to slip and round nuts. I'll buy the proper imperial spanner.
I was looking at magnetic sump plugs and all of them so far have about 35 quid shipping! They won't stick in an envelope. :-(

I'll trawl through ebay...

[GreenV8S]

phillpot said:

Seriously! Adjustable is worst thing to use (imho) Correct size spanner, ideally a ring if room to get it on.

Yes, seriously.

A well fitting ring/rocket/box spanner would be ideal, but if you're going to use an open ended spanner then an adjustable spanner set correctly will be far better than a poorly fitting spanner - for example, somebody trying to use a metric spanner on an imperial plug. Even the right nominal size spanner may not be a good fit if the plug is worn.

[Beast Master]

Motaclan has magnetic plugs and 15 quid shipping, so alot more reasonable than the others. So went with them.

[Yogioes]

A long 29mm spanner with another spanner should be giving you some leverage, especially if you are living up to your username.

Can’t resist asking the silly question….
You are trying to turn it the right way?

I stripped the sump bolt thread on a 1975 ish Morris 18-22 series. My dad jammed it back in with cloth tape and araldite.

Anything is possible. No signs of glue or welding?

[phillpot]

Beast Master said:

I was looking at magnetic sump plugs and all of them so far have about 35 quid shipping! They won't stick in an envelope. :-(

I'll trawl through ebay...

It's a sump plug with a magnet stuck to it

Standard plug four quid and glue a magnet to it, although it will stick to it anyway .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191084952604?hash=item2...

Edited by phillpot on Wednesday 14th June 19:34

[Beast Master]

phillpot said:

It's a sump plug with a magnet stuck to it

Standard plug four quid and glue a magnet to it, although it will stick to it anyway .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191084952604?hash=item2...

Edited by phillpot on Wednesday 14th June 19:34

Nice one! Thanks

[Beast Master]

Yogioes said:

A long 29mm spanner with another spanner should be giving you some leverage, especially if you are living up to your username.

Can’t resist asking the silly question….
You are trying to turn it the right way?

I stripped the sump bolt thread on a 1975 ish Morris 18-22 series. My dad jammed it back in with cloth tape and araldite.

Anything is possible. No signs of glue or welding?

I'm afraid my user name is 100% ironic! ;-) The sump plug looks brand new, clean, no signs of damage or anything.
And it's always a fair question, but yes I was turning it the right way. In fact I started to ask myself if the were reversed threaded!
A mate is in the States at the moment, so he is going to pick me up a 1 & 1/8 spanner. And I've ordered a spanner extender tool. So I'll go back at it with a snug spanner and I will release the beast! I will master this bolt! ;-)

[sixor8]

Awake far too early.

I bought a 1 1/8" socket (1/2" drive) to fit the differential pinion oil seal nut on a 1975 Triumph Toledo. I bought it off eBay in 2021 and it was £5.99 delivered.

[mk1fan]

Beast Master said:

phillpot said:

It's a sump plug with a magnet stuck to it

Standard plug four quid and glue a magnet to it, although it will stick to it anyway .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191084952604?hash=item2...

Edited by phillpot on Wednesday 14th June 19:34

Nice one! Thanks

Or slip a magnet through the hole to sit in the sump assuming you have a steel sump. Not sure I'd trust the glue to hold / stay stuck to either plug or magnet while hot acidic oil is sloshing around it

[Beast Master]

sixor8 said:

Awake far too early.

I bought a 1 1/8" socket (1/2" drive) to fit the differential pinion oil seal nut on a 1975 Triumph Toledo. I bought it off eBay in 2021 and it was £5.99 delivered.

Now that is a bargain! Unfortunately Brexit has screwed me for most of my online buying. So I have to trawl through the German sites. :-(

[phillpot]

mk1fan said:

Or slip a magnet through the hole to sit in the sump assuming you have a steel sump. Not sure I'd trust the glue to hold / stay stuck to either plug or magnet while hot acidic oil is sloshing around it

If it'll stick to the sump it'll stick to the plug!

Trust me

Edited by phillpot on Thursday 15th June 14:33

[mk1fan]

It's more the glue than the the magnetics

[zombeh]

Beast Master said:

I'll look at getting an imperial spanner next

The engine is imperial, mostly UNC as it's aluminium, the occasional steel into steel fitting like the sump plug will be UNF.

Gearbox is metric, all the ford bits are metric, MOST of TVR's bits are metric but you'll find odd things like brake pipes will have imperial fittings in places.

[phillpot]

Sump plug is 1/2" BSP I believe?