m1fresh

Hello I was planning on changing the oil in my 1965 cutlass 330, does anyone no the size of the star bolton the oil pan? Got a T 70 from the auto store but it seems to big...

Allan R

According to the info on RockAuto it should be DORMAN Part # 090052. Cheap - 1.00



EDIT: Forgot to add this Head Size: 9/16"; Head Style: Hex 1/2-20 Thd Fits 1961 - 1994

Lady72nRob71

star bolt? Sounds aftermarket to me. Shoulda been a plain hex bolt from the factory.

Allan R

The other thing that sounded wrong was T70 - That's a torx screw/bolt

m1fresh

That's what I thought till I got under there, I believe it is a torx bolt. Thanks

m371961

My 65 425 has a bolt that looks something like a torx, but has 8 "points". I just use a 1/2 inch drive extension and it works fine. I believe I have seen a wrench in the past made for these, even have one somewhere? Just be gently, don't let it slip and don't overtighten. Someone here should know if a wrench was made for these. To my knowledge no american auto used any torx hardware in 65.Maybe replace it with a hex head if you get the right one.

MDchanic

The picture that Allan posted is exactly what it should look like.

If it looks like anything else, then someone has messed with it.

- Eric

2blu442

1965 330 was unique. I'm not sure if the big blocks used it but the 330 in the Cutlass used a flush mounted plug that can be removed with a 1/2" ratchet. This picture isn't real good, I'll try to get another one to post. John

P4290668.jpg

Lady72nRob71

Funky! Kinda like a square rear diff plug - try to use a ratchet extension....

MDchanic

Well I'll be...

So it's like a differential drain plug then.

Thanks, John.

- Eric

2blu442

Here's some better pic's. My guess is that the bottom of the oil pan is pretty close to the same level of the crossmember. So the conventional plug would have the head scraped off if you drug over a speed bump. The problem with that theory is if so why didn't they use it for other years! One of the 1965 guru's will have to explain it better

P6101013.jpg

P6101012.jpg

P6101014.jpg

m1fresh

That's it! Now to get that SOB off? So just try w/ ratchet?

2blu442

Yes. Just like m371961 suggested you can put the square part of a 1/2" ratchet in there and remove it. Hopefully it's been removed in the last decade and not cemented in there with gunk!

Keep us posted on how you do! John

m1fresh

Got it off! Thanks Gentlemen!

Allan R

X2 You learn something new here everyday.

2blu442

That goes to show we're never too old to, to, um... where was I going with this? There's something else that happens when we get old too

Allan R

I know zackly what you mean, but for the life of me I can't remember what it is either... and I qualify because I'm waaaayy older than you

Octania

There was indeed a special tool made to service this oddball 8-pt or double square drain plug. As you see, though, a 1/2 drive ratchet/ breaker/ extension/ etc. serves ok.

Sugar Bear

Looks exactly like the original plug that was in our 65 Vista Cruiser 330 4bbl. As previous posters said a 1/2" drive ratchet or breaker bar without any socket or bit should work well. About the design, I agree it is less likely to get torn out by an object in the road or the road itself if bottoming out.

D. Yaros

The plug in the picture was also used, at least in 62 & 63. Yes, a special wrench/socket was in fact made for it. Yes, a bare 1/2" drive does work on it.

m371961

Was going to get a pic of mine today, but you guys got it here first. Too lazy last night to get out of recliner.I know I had a wrench like that around long before I had anything to use it on, didn't have a clue what it was for and misplaced it somewhere.Must of done it because the pan is so low. All the dents in mine show it's been dragged before.

Run to Rund

Glad this one got sorted out quickly. Yes, the unusual plug was OEM, yes it is removable by a 1/2" drive ratchet, and yes, Torx wasn't invented back then. Torx would be usually 6 point, but Bosch used 5 point sometimes. According to Wikipedia:
Torx (pronounced "torks") developed in 1967[1] by Camcar Textron,[2] is the trademark for a type of screw head characterized by a 6-point star-shaped pattern

Allan R

Well then, a torx wouldn't work at all on that plug seeing as it has 8 sides.

rocketraider

All 61-65 Olds V8 except the 215 used this drain plug, so it's not exactly unusual. Yes, there was a special 8-point bit made to remove it (which should be in any hardcore Oldspunk's tool box), but as some of you have found a 1/2" drive ratchet will remove it. I've never had any luck using an extension as those tend to spin in the recess and round out the flutes in the plug. Use the ratchet by itself.

Octania

"Oldspunk" - good one. Like "steampunk"?

In my experience, that recess drive plug was found only on 1965 425's and now perhaps 330's- not thru 1967.

Anywho I happen to have one of those tools, so I can share what it looks like:

IMG_6095.jpg

IMG_6094.jpg

IMG_6093.jpg

D. Yaros

That is the same tool I have for my car, which is a 1962. I also know from personal experience that the 1963 also had this drain plug.

2blu442

Wow I had no idea! Over the years I've owned a couple dozen 1964-67 engines and this is the only engine that still had the plug. Somewhere along the way I'd been told this was a 1965 only and I just ran with that mis-information. Thank you for the clarifications everybody, this will be a good reference thread for future questions about this plug. John

rocketraider

Yup. I like "Rocketpunk" better but seems the sci-fi crowd co-opted that first as a reaction to steampunk.

I stand corrected. Parts book indicates it was last used in 65.

logsplus

I sell the "Bonney" socket you need for the oil pan. I have them on ebay. I am oldsrus on ebay. It ad is Bonney socket 62 Olds. My email is oldsrus@comcast.net
Paul

logsplus

I sell the "Bonney" socket you need for the oil pan. I have them on ebay. I am oldsrus on ebay. It ad is Bonney socket 62 Olds. My email is oldsrus@comcast.net
Paul

rocketraider

Now that is the way a true Oldspunk should think!

I have a pile of Burroughs and Kent-Moore dealer tools, and I figure that when I have Rocketed out of this world and my estate is being sold off to the highest bidder, someone is going to pull their hair out trying to figure out what these tools do. Hey, I have the catalogs too...

m1fresh

Just bought them! Thanks Oldsrus

BILL DEMMER

all of the '65 425's i've collected had that drain plug(and a healthy-sized drain hole too!)
when you remove that plug, the pan drains NOW.


bill

CharlieZ

Found this post after crawling under the car to change the oil for the first time since I Bought the car. The half inch drive worked perfectly! Definately a strange oil pan nut!