Yes, what I will do with the many oil pan bolts, is put them snug by finger tip then a socket with extension but no ratchet attached, and only a couple fingers on it.
Same with the oil drain bolt.
Scottjkyl you bought the best exhaust system in the world for a ZX14. I'm waiting to hear from the ceramic guys how much, I want to have Brocks ship direct and have the ceramic guys ship finished product to me.
Someone in this, or the old, forum said you could take header off without removing radiator fully if you are careful. I can attest to this! I took out the two top bolts and unhooked the connector, and let the radator tilt forward against the horns. I have a radiator guard, so no worries.
The nuts holding the header on came off super easy, they had virtually no torque on them I could detect. So when I put the new system on, I'll duplicate that feel. It will be obvious when I fire it up if they aren't tight enough, lol. Besides, when the headers heat up, they get really tight.
I learned my lesson. I might be a good machinist, but had never dealt with such soft aluminum. The aluminum blocks on my sports cars over the years might have been softer than steel, but not enough you couldn't torque the drain bolt safely, lol.
Really appreciate the ideas, the support, and the humor. Its learning experience.
Bobby, I'm not selling the old pan, I'm taking it to my nephew the welder to try something. First, I want the drain hole bored out as much as possible and retapped, then have a stainless steel insert with out and inner threads screwed in with locktite sealant in the threads (it will never come out or leak). Then I can use a stainless steel bolt with that insert, and never have a strip happen.
But I won't put it back on, this is a trial run to see if we could make some for sale.
Living the Gypsy Life