So I’m prepping my cat for tomorrow’s Fabulous Fords show at Knott’s. I decided to do an oil change first. After filling the oil I noticed that the drain plug was lightly dripping. So I decided to fix the issue and drained the new oil. I had another drain plug but had not noticed that a couple of the threads were buggered up. Long story short I stripped the threads. I then ended up buying oversize drain plug and that didn’t work either. Car is dead in the water and I need to replace the pan. Sucks for me.
Oh man, I feel for you. I just changed my oil yesterday and didn’t have the easiest time with the drain bolt either. I spent a long time trying to make sure it was threaded right before I tightened, and it wasn’t easy to get it in the right way for some reason. I always use the trick where I orient it how I think is right and then by hand, turn it opposite of tight, and feel for the spot where the thread ends meet and it sort of clicks into place, and then tighten. That works on most bolts, but for whatever reason this one didn’t have a noticeable clicking into place. I just kept going back and forth, finger tightening it, until I had it screwed in pretty much the entire way by hand, and then barely tightened it down with a socket. And spent a lot of time walking around my garage getting more and more irritated that I couldn’t find the torque wrench I just bought a few months ago.
Sorry to hear about your situation. I was very afraid of ending up in the same position, and was lucky enough not to.
Here’s to wishing your cat a speedy recovery!
You can still go, just without your cat.
Yeah, what Don said. Go and enjoy the show. Taking a step back can clear your head of the oil plug problem. Hope everything goes good when you start the oil pan replacement.
Steven
sorry to hear that. That’s a real bummer. 
Everyone should have an opportunity to see your car. 
sorry to hear that. That’s a real bummer.
me too
Personally, I wouldn’t let this stop you! I’d pop down to my favorite auto parts store and grab a rubber pan plug from the “Help!” section. Deal with the stripped threads later, enjoy now!
There is another way to repair it without replacing the pan. It’s a heli coil. You drill the hole in the pan oversized, thread, and insert a heli-coil. the inside threads of the heli-coil are your new threads for the new drain plug. I’ve never personally done it but have heard about it. Of course after drilling I would pour oil in and let it drain out to remove any shavings before tapping and do it again after tapping to be safe. Of course the best is to remove the pan to do it. I have no idea how much the kit is. Manybe it’s more than a pan… Don’t know. Just giving you an alternative.
Here is a link to just one google search i did.
A heli coil is a good idea something that I forgot to mention in my earlier post. We have used them here at work before and they are just as easy to use as a regular tap and die set. The difference is that you are not making the hole larger you just drill out the bad threads and insert the heli coil. Once complete you can reinstall the same size bolt/plug. We have used them on fire pumps on our brush trucks where drain fittings have rusted out and when removed the hole threads have been stripped. Here is a link to a video I found online showing a heli coil insert on a cylinder head. Like Cougar One said it might be an option.
Steven
Not going to worry about a heli-coli but thanks. The pan looks like it’s hit bottom a couple times so it’s dent up. I’m just going to buy a new pan and get on with it. Now do I get a regular steel pan or a zinc coated pan???
As Bob has said, just one of those rubber pan plugs work great and you can fix the thing later with the new pan. A Heli-coil would probably not work will enough with this because the metal is so thin, at max, the treaded plate is 1/8.
That all said, I really think it is utterly hopeless for you to fix your car. I understand, that everyone is trying to get your hopes up, that it would even be possible to fix this. My thoughts are that I can help sooth the pain of it all and take the car off of your hands, of coarse at a discount, since the pan plug is stripped.
Im only here to help, so let me know when I an come and pick up the car from you, Like a true friend to the rescue!! Buddy old pal. 
By the way, the stuff your mother said, Don’t talk to strangers, Im not strange really, just ask anyone here. 
Come on over, keys are in the ignition…
Oh, Man, If only! It’s not like you live next door or something. Im sure if the day you were to get rid of that beauty, there would be many standing in line, me included. I would love to come to one of the shows in your area just to meet up with you guys and to see these great rides!
Just bought my plane ticket, I will be there Wed to pick it up.
Somehow I missed this post Z. Sorry you had issues. That said…
BACK AWAY FROM MY FRIGGIN’ CAR!!! When and IF Z sells, I have 1st dibs. This deal was struck over a bathtub full of Colarado’s best micro brews. I’ve got a scotsman who’ll swear to it. It really doesnt get more air tight than that… 
Too late, it’s now sitting in my garage. 
You DO realize, I know where you live… my lawyers will be in touch.
Soon as we’re done tearing you up, gonna go after Zoli. Make him regret ever standing next to a man in a kilt. 
Looks like Todd is not a man that should be crossed. The world is still OK… for now. Just need to find time to install the oil pan.
Hey Zoli! I knda figured we was all just funnin’… after all, I didnt “feel” the sale of the '70 rag.
For anyone interested, Zoli was kind enough to let me drive the '70 while we were all in Denver. As nice as it is in pics, it’s better in the flesh.
Class act.
He’s all bark, and no bite. At least, that’s what our wife says.