Why isn't it tapping?
 

I just drilled the pan, thank god no pickup tube incidents. I also threaded it with the 1/2 npt x 14 tap. The tap screws in and out of the hole perfectly. BUT for some reason my 1/2 npt fitting won't screw in. I've tried applying some pressure when trying to screw it in and it just starts ripping threads off of the bolt. What's going on? I'm about to run to home depot to see if I can grab a different bolt....otherwise I don't see what's going on. I tapped it damn near perfectly level too. It might be a taddddd lower but still almost perfect. Ideas?

certain your fitting is 1/2-14? and you tapped the hole as far as you can without hitting the pickup?

Okay I got it! Took a little muscle but I got it to work.I had to tilt the fitting at that slight angle and push the fitting towards the pan and then turn to keep it in there. Now time for a little jb weld!

Pic:
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9753/pantap.jpg

You did it w/ the pan on the car? How do you plan on ensuring you get all the metal shavings, just by doing an oil change?

A lot of people do that project 84. That way you don't have to pull the engine, seperate the trans and pull the oil pan to do it. If you grease the drill the chips will stay on it.

uh oh...found out the issue...My fitting is 1/2 mip(or whatever it's called) not 1/2 npt. Hmm...could this be a problem? It's already in there...hmmm

I taped off my drill bit so it wouldn't be pulled in past the depth I wanted...then I dipped the drill end in suspension lube-most of the shavings stuck to the bit. Afterwards ran mineral spirits through the drain tube to flush out the oil pan. But I feel the grease kept most of the shavings out just fine.

I used Vaseline on the end of the bit. I would drill...then wipe off all the shavings...drill...wipe off all the...etc. I still felt some shavings in the pan so that's what the mineral crap is for.

I don't know how many others here did the same, but applied the JB weld to the threads on the fitting then screwed it in. Finished by putting a little all the way around the fitting once in. No leaks thus far.

sweet thanks^^^^^^^

MIP = male iron pipe
NPT = national pipe thread

same thing

Welcome to how everyone has been doing it since 1989. Grease the bits and flush the pan with paint thinner and you'll have no worries.