"New" Galant oil pan/bottom end issues

I recently "acquired" a 94 16 valve Auto Galant kind of cheap (buying it as a "school" car for brotherinlaw), buying it from a dealer friend who's letting me drive it around for a few weeks.

I tried to change the oil; but the oil pan plug was stuck beyond my willingness to try to turn it any further (I was hitting it lightly with hammer and no movement). Should I just take it to an oil change place and have them swap out an oversize plug?

The oil pan seems to have a big dent in it from the front - should that worry me? The car's drivetrain "drives" very well otherwise, no funny noises from engine or anything (lots of little electrical gremlines, though).

One other worrying thing is that I can see a fair bit of the "ring" gear - it almost seems as though there should be some sort of covering plate, as there seems to be a spot for such a thing and bolt-holes; but nothing there. Should there be a part here?

This car is very cheap, and we like it, and will keep it barring any major major issues. Should I be worried about the dented oil pan?

Thanks, Matt

Reply to
Matt L
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put a six point socket on it and get some leverage. the "nut" is a piece that's spotwelded to the pan. i have seen them break off but it's an easy fix with a mig welder. a new condition oil pan is less than $50 and can be found on the trader

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or at cherry
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is an inspection plate missing from the car allowing you to view theflywheel. it won't kill you if you don't replace it but if you want one thesources above will have it.

Reply to
simpleton

Maybe I didn't inspect properly - are you saying that the thing I was trying to turn (hitting my large socket wrench with a hammer) is spot-welded on? Where's the drain plug then? Sorry if it's a stupid question - I guess I don't fully understand the distinction between the drain plug and the "nut" here. What I was trying to turn was on the back of the oilpan (back looking from the front).

Thanks for easing my mind about the inspection plate. I'll probably leave it off, spending on such priorities would go against the paradigm of this car (minimal cheap transport for brotherinlaw for 2 years). Would using this dented oil pan hurt me? Is it vital to the oil flow on this type of engine? (I figure on some designs it is, some it isn't)?

Thanks, Matt

in

Reply to
Matt L

Typical oil pans have a "nut" welded to the sheet medal that is formed into your oil pan. Into this nut you screw the drain plug, this plugs the hole that is the center of the nut. What the other poster was trying to say was, use a 6 point socket on the drain plug, and IF the welded nut breaks off instead, it can be welded back on with a mig welder. Normally you don't need the plug that tight, if you use the correct plastic washer. As for the dent, it depends on where, and how big, typically the sump oil pump is at the lowest location of the oil pan. As long as it gets the oil and the crank isn't hitting the pan, I'd leave it.

Reply to
Nirodac

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