Can't remove oil drain plug - Equal length y-pipe

[nw_mr2]

So a few months ago I had the SHO Source y-pipe installed. I was finishing a bunch of work on the car and didn't feel like changing the oil, so I took it to the dealer and had them do the oil change. No issues. Fast forward three months, and I had the oil changed at a different Ford dealer, and again, no issues.

Last week I took it back to dealer 2, and they told me they were unable to remove the drain bolt because of the y-pipe being in the way. I didn't quite believe them, but I gave it a try this morning and I cannot get it out at all. I got a steady "drip...drip...drip" from the pan but thats about it.

This leads me to two questions:

1. How could it have moved that much? I tried pushing on the y-pipe to see if it would move at all but it's on rock solid.

2. Where do I go from here? I searched and it sounded like some people have used shorter drain bolts. Do you buy those somewhere or just shorten the bolt and re-cut the threads?

I'm looking at something like this: http://www.quickoildrainvalve.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=80, but it looks like I'd have to have the extension piece so I'm still not sure if that would be too long.

Any help is appreciated... I'm not going to remove the y-pipe every time I change my oil...

 

[LJRuddy]

When I installed my catless equal length pipe, I saw this issue during my mock up. What should have been done during the mock up was slide the pieces further away from the oil pan to eliminate this issue.

Anywho, are you saying that you can get a open end wrench on the plug but you just can't back it out all the way? If so, the only option you have is to drop the y-pipe and replace the bolt with a shorter one.

 

[BlackonBlack89]

or loosen it enough to cut it then finish taking it out w. vice grip or something. Then install a short bolt. The bolt is not really that long anyways.

Good luck.

 

[nw_mr2]

Figured as much, just wanted to see if I was missing something.

Yes, I can loosen the bolt far enough out to have the oil drip a little, just not quite enough to drop it out completely.

 

[St Louis SHO]

I loosened mine, then put a pry bar on the pipe to move it back. Then got a shorter drain plug, and no more problem.

 

[nw_mr2]

Yeah I know I'm going to have to get one, I'm just more curious as to how it could have moved like it did. I remember looking at the clearance before/after it was welded and it had plenty of room. Two dealers change the oil, then all of the sudden it's in the way?

St Louis SHO, did you buy a shorter drain plug from somewhere or just cut one down and fix the threads?

 

[St Louis SHO]

We stock them at work. Dorman makes it. It is about 1/2" shorter.

 

[Shoaz]

I doubt it moved. I bet the techs at the dealer either forced it or loosened the Y-pipe to get the plug out and back in.

SHO Shop used to ship a replacement, short, drain plug with the "equal length" Y-pipes back in the day.

 

[nw_mr2]

Okay. I got the dorman oil drain plug from Autozone (#365230), hopefully that will do the trick. Thanks for the responses.

 

[tompumped]

I guess if your motor mount was real bad like mine was it could cause the y pipe to shift, but I don't know.

 

[shopartsnw]

When Matt had the y-pipe designed, he specifically designed it so a standard oil plug would work.

I just installed my first SHO Source y-pipe last weekend. I found a lot of play in the y-pipe assembly. The key for me was to make sure the bend was far enough away from the drain plug, so it would not cause a fit issue. I then tacked the joints, removed the pipe and welded it out.

Could your pipe have shifted in the clamps?

Mike

 

[LJRuddy]

I just installed my first SHO Source y-pipe last weekend. I found a lot of play in the y-pipe assembly. The key for me was to make sure the bend was far enough away from the drain plug, so it would not cause a fit issue. I then tacked the joints, removed the pipe and welded it out.

Mike

This is exactly what I did when I installed mine. I almost didnt catch it though which would have sucked as I would have been dropping my oil pan the next time my oil change was due. :laugh_ti:

 

[nw_mr2]

When Matt had the y-pipe designed, he specifically designed it so a standard oil plug would work.

I just installed my first SHO Source y-pipe last weekend. I found a lot of play in the y-pipe assembly. The key for me was to make sure the bend was far enough away from the drain plug, so it would not cause a fit issue. I then tacked the joints, removed the pipe and welded it out.

Could your pipe have shifted in the clamps?

Mike

I had a shop weld it. I did look at it before/after it was welded and it *looked* like the fit wouldn't be a problem. Guess I was wrong. No biggy, I just learned to be more careful next time