24 replies to this topic

[Shooter63]

Is there any reason one of these could not be used?

https://www.ebay.co....emis&media=COPY

I neither have the knowhow or tooling to make one so this would be an option if it would work.
Only possible hassle I can see is maybe the bolt head being too large to get a socket on to tighten it in the recess of the case?

You could use one, it just needs the overall length cutting down, the bolt head thickness reducing just to look nice and I think but I'm not sure, the bolt head reducing in diameter so it fits in the recess, plus can you get a m14 x 2 sump plug?

Shooter

[stoneface]

An M20 bolt does fit as this is what I used. I stole the idea from others on the forum. You can't get a socket on it unless you leave the head really thick but this reduces the amount the magnet goes through. Although you could counter bore it and recess the plug.

 

Tightens with an adjustable spanner just fine and it's loctited in as I don't plan to take it out.

 

If I had a bit of 1" hex bar then I would have followed Shooter63 design but a bolt is what I had to hand.

Edited by stoneface, 05 November 2024 - 09:04 AM.

[Gaz66]

Is there any reason one of these could not be used?

https://www.ebay.co....emis&media=COPY

I neither have the knowhow or tooling to make one so this would be an option if it would work.
Only possible hassle I can see is maybe the bolt head being too large to get a socket on to tighten it in the recess of the case?

You could use one, it just needs the overall length cutting down, the bolt head thickness reducing just to look nice and I think but I'm not sure, the bolt head reducing in diameter so it fits in the recess, plus can you get a m14 x 2 sump plug?

Shooter

Not sure about the M14 plug but you can get an M12x1.75 plug and M20 bolt
Another thought.... Would the M20 eventually become magnetised thus leaving the crap stuck to it internally?

Edited by Gaz66, 05 November 2024 - 08:20 PM.

[Java_Green]

Yes, I did make it.

Snap except I used 1" bar and a m14 x 1.25 tap ( I think). The 1" bar as it allows the hex head to sit in the reccess nicely.

Shooter

Did you use 5/8-16 UNC thread on the adapter towards the gearbox? The minor diameter for that thread is ~14, so nothing left for a M14 bolt going through.

[Shooter63]

Yes, I did make it.

Snap except I used 1" bar and a m14 x 1.25 tap ( I think). The 1" bar as it allows the hex head to sit in the reccess nicely.

Shooter

Did you use 5/8-16 UNC thread on the adapter towards the gearbox? The minor diameter for that thread is ~14, so nothing left for a M14 bolt going through.

First off I will state that this wasn't my idea, it was the legendary Spider of these parts who first designed it. The adapter part that goes into the gearbox is M20 x 2.5 which means the minor diameter of the thread is 17.5mm ( A quick tech tip for you guys, if you want to know what size drill you need to tap a metric thread just take away the pitch from the thread diameter ie 20mm - 2.5mm = 17.5mm drill ) so using a m14 drain plug leaves you with around 1.25mm wall thickness. The reason I used a m14 plug is two fold 1, I had the tap in my tap draw and 2 you will find a replacement anywhere in the world unlike a UNC which is pretty car specific.

Shooter

[OzOAP]

I use Wurth Timeserts.
Not cheap, but the best.

[Gaz66]

I use Wurth Timeserts.
Not cheap, but the best.

Ok if you already have the installation kit but not cost effective if you have to buy it for a one off.
Back on the subject of helicoils.....
I got in touch with my tool supplier and asked him for a price on the 5/8 kit
Not available he said. Every other size is available except that. Hmmm, wonder what the crack is there then?

Edited by Gaz66, 14 November 2024 - 11:05 AM.

[stuart bowes]

Is there a size up from that you can drill out the hole a little and use a bigger one.

I say that but I haven't actually looked at the 'box to see if it's possible

Edited by stuart bowes, 14 November 2024 - 10:07 PM.

[Gaz66]

It may be the case that the ones for sale at 50-60 quid are the last hence the price.
Still can't understand why just that size though.

[Shooter63]

It may be the case that the ones for sale at 50-60 quid are the last hence the price.
Still can't understand why just that size though.

It's not just that size, 5/8 UNF is the same sort of price, alot of the larger Metric kits are also in that range. You've got to remember the mini was a bit of an enigma in that it really didn't change from 1959. I think most if not all car manufacturers had gone metric by the 1980's. I would have a guess that for every 5/8 UNC kit sold a retailer would sell 10's of metric ones, they will only stock what people want/need. In todays world £50.00 isn't even a night out on the pi##. There are other options to solve the problem, but you have the same problem, you will need to buy an adaptor, then drill and tap the gearbox, if you don't already have said drills and taps, then the price probably works out the same if not more. In this instance its probably just a case of buy once cry once.

Shooter