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TR2/3/3A Removing a stuck oil drain plug

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sp53

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Removing a stuck oil drain plug. The plug looks stock, and it is the square one about 7/16. This thing is stuck and has not been all mangled, yet. I tried heat, and have been using a Proto quality 12 inch adjustable. I do not want to go to vise grips or a pipe wrench yet. Is there a socket that fits those things or something? Any ideas?

Steve
 
sp53 said:
Removing a stuck oil drain plug. The plug looks stock, and it is the square one about 7/16. This thing is stuck and has not been all mangled, yet. I tried heat, and have been using a Proto quality 12 inch adjustable. I do not want to go to vise grips or a pipe wrench yet. Is there a socket that fits those things or something? Any ideas?

Steve
Click to expand...
Like others say, avoid all tools other than a square wrench. Absolutely nothing would work on my drain plug other than a square wrench. I’ll spare you all of the terrible details, but I tried removing a transmission plug without a square wrench, using all kinds of sockets and wrenches, and the result was a nice round “unremovable” plug. Imagine trying to remove a rounded plug. There is no alternative other than a very steady hand with bright lights drilling straight through the middle of the plug and then extracting it with an easy out.
 
TR2's came with a brass plug...so the good news is it is not an original. Keep upscaling until you finally have to weld a handle to it and get it out.
 
I found a bolt remover at Leow's .It was even made in the US,
and it worked. Ut's made by IRWIN,& comes with 4 different sizes.
 
Do yourself a favor . Once you get it out and replace it with a magnetic plug. It will be a hex head.
Charley
 
Well I got the plug out by clamping my favorite flat jawed vise grips at the back of the jaws on the bolt very tight. Then what I did was lie on my back and push will my legs and the bolt broke lose. The sad part was as I crack the bolt slowly water came out, I mean 5 quarts of water. The water filled my drain pan almost to the top, so I dumped that and will get the rest out soon.

The engine is now not that big of concern to me. I have another engine I was rebuilding before I bought the car. I plan on rebuilding it this winter.

steve
 
I suspected that when you said the engine was over-filled with oil. Did you ever determine if it is the original TR2 block or not?
 
Yes the engine is a tr3. I think it was TS 50K something and the head is high port. I am not sure what to do with this engine for now. I really do not want to fiddle with it because of the water. The head gasket is probably blown or a crack somewhere. I suppose best case is rain water, but I am usually a dreamer. Plus, I bet that engine comes apart difficulty, like getting the head off. Perhaps I will put some oil in and set the engine off to side. I see no reason to spin the engine with a starter, but it would probably push some oil around. What do you think?

steve
 
Good choice. If it isn't original there is no need to waste time on it if you have another donor. My bet would be rain water too.
 
A 7/16" Pipe plug socket loosened my seized or over tightened oil drain plug. These sockets are square and get a really good bite on the tapered 7/16" plug. I needed a long breaker bar on the socket to move it.
 
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