In the home stretch.. Then disaster strikes...

[R8rPhan]

Put the enine at TDC compression stroke..
Pulled the wires and distributor cap..
Marked where everything is pointing...
Yanked the distributor...
Noted where rotor is pointing after the pull..
Pulled the coil and mount...
Excellent, ready to put new HEI in...
Went to change out oil pressure sender (new one comes with digital gauge kit) while everything is out of the way..
Put wrench on fitting under sensor....
Gave a little tug...

SNAP!!!

little brass nipple screwed into block snapped off, and threads are still in block!!!

(Insert all kinds of bad words here!)

(insert acceptance, then crying here)

Looking for easy outs...
Can't find (probably don't have anything that small anyways)

Miles from anywhere...

Thinking I'll have to drill it out and run tap in there....

No idea what size it is...


HELP!!!

Anyone know what size tap and drill I need?

Any other ideas????

Why the hell is the wall on this brass nipple so freaking thin????

 

[350runner]

Well it's brass so you could probably dig it out.

Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

 

[Camar068]

I had some other options typed up but they seemed a bit risky. Check out the link below. Check post #14 as well, you could probably make something like that, or use a screwdriver...and tap it in a bit.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech-general-engine/685207-busted-fitting-block-removing.html

 

[R8rPhan]

I know I have a set of small screw extractors somewhere.. I'm picturing the vinyl package in my head right now, but can't think of where they are.. Looked everywhere I would expect them to be, but no luck..

Found a tap for 1/8" pipe, which is what this is, but drilling out the brass would send lots of metal into the block..

Unless brass bits are not an issue being they're softer than steel????
What material are bearings made of?

 

[RThiel]

Softer than brass, BUT.... Drill it out and chase the threads, get it all cleaned up, then bump the motor over or use a drill primer to pump oil out the sending unit hole to flush it. It'll make a mess, but it should flush all the brass chips out.

 

[R8rPhan]

YESSSSS!!!!!


Hallelujah!
(Insert Heavenly Choir Here)



Got it out!
Using my trusty rubber gripped Klien brass tubing extractor... Tapped it in there with a pair of side cutters and then carefully put some force to turn it, and then.... and then... and then...

IT BROKE FREE!!!

Now all I gotta do is find a replacement..

Pretty sure I have a 1/8" nipple in stainless or gal, but I should probably put something like brass back in there, in case I screw up again... Maybe I can find a die for it in one of my tap and die sets... The original nipple still has a few threads left on it, so wouldn't require much!

Boy that kinda put a damper in my plans for the day... But I'll take it.. At least I can move forward again..

Thanks!

 

[74 Shortbed]

Always a good feeling when a problem is solved.

 

[R8rPhan]

Always a good feeling when a problem is solved.

Yes, but that whole episode sucked badly! Had a die, so I just extended the threads that remained where it snapped...

And I can hardly walk today after spending so much time sitting in the engine bay..

BUT... I'm almost completely done in there! Just gotta add a couple wires to the harness for future use, add a #14 ground back to where the battery grounds for the new digital instrument cluster, change out the water temp sender and that's it!

Install the speedo sensor and terminate to the wires I already ran there for it, and then I'm done under the truck..

Figure out how to adapt the license plate lamps I bought that don't fit the holes I have..

and everything else is in the cab...

If it weren't for the weather I could actually be wrapping this thing up here pretty soon, and then start plotting, planning, saving, and collecting parts for the next phase...

Hoping that by the time weekend after this is over, this truck is all put back together...

 

[74 Shortbed]

Maybe it sucked but you got it fixed and made progress, that's always a good thing..

 

[R8rPhan]

Maybe it sucked but you got it fixed and made progress, that's always a good thing..

Absolutely! and I am thankful how it worked out (coulda been a lot worse).. My legs aren't quite so thankful though.. But they'll get over it!

 

[R8rPhan]

So, the roughness and backfiring were due to having two plug wires reversed... That's what I get for pushing myself when I was tired and frazzled... Fortunately, the two wires were right next to each other on the cap, so no rerouting of wires was required... Actually ran a lot better than you'd think with two cylinders not firing.. Idled like it had a pretty healthy cam... lol

Runs super smooth now...

 

[74 Shortbed]

Well, that was a simple fix glad it worked out..

 

[Camar068]

And I can hardly walk today after spending so much time sitting in the engine bay..

I've got a thick piece of Styrofoam I lay across the hood latch and then I lay on it using elbows and valve covers for support. Be awesome to have a big support in the middle of the hood and flip up half the hood and a fender all in one action. Like some of the early cars had. You'd have to split the inner fender due to AC and the master cylinder. Couple movements and your standing next to the engine.

LOL there I go again, thinking outside the box.

Glad you got it out.

 

[R8rPhan]

I've got a thick piece of Styrofoam I lay across the hood latch and then I lay on it using elbows and valve covers for support. Be awesome to have a big support in the middle of the hood and flip up half the hood and a fender all in one action. Like some of the early cars had. You'd have to split the inner fender due to AC and the master cylinder. Couple movements and your standing next to the engine.

LOL there I go again, thinking outside the box.

Glad you got it out.

Always wanted a car or truck that had a one piece tilt up front clip... But they're freaking pricey!

But when I build my rat rod, it won't even have a hood or fenders! One of the reasons I want to build one... That and they're cheap and fun...

 

[Oldrider]

Glad you got it out!!!