I was buttoning up the oil pan on this `65 225 I have in the shop. I was torquing things up and I got to the two bolts on the rear of the pan that go into the Main Seal Retainer. I was just about torqued when I heard a sickening snap. Unbeknowst to me, there was a clump of set up sealant in the bottom of the bolt hole and just before I hit torque, (200 inch lbs according to the manual), the end of the bolt compressed the rubber sealant and the resulting pressure was enough to pop the bolt hole like a bubble.

So now I am screwed. I have gone casting about at Summit and other such places for a replacement and it appears that I am more likely to encounter a unicorn.

So, now what? The portion of the retainer that broke is the bolt hole for the pan. It is broken on the inside, so whatever I do has to be able to withstand hot, circulating oil. All of the sealing areas are unharmed by this mishap. I just need to reliably seal this piece and be able to torque the pan to specs.

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1961, 1962, 1963 and 1965 Valiant 200. The `65 is a `vert.

I can't see your retainer from here, but would a heli Coil fix it?
I do think (others here can verify this) that a retainer from a big block would be the same, I know that the rear main seal is the same, for sure. That would widen the "search base" for you, if so.
They just don't use those short "tails" that are included with the rear main seal when you buy for a BB, those are "just for slant 6s" but the seal itself, IS the same.

Here's a picture of the mess.

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1961, 1962, 1963 and 1965 Valiant 200. The `65 is a `vert.

I bet there is one of those laying around in some slant sixers garage.
Put a post up in the parts wanted section.
Or to do a real fix, take it to someone that knows what that are doing when it comes to welding aluminum. They would re make the boss and drill and tap the threads in.
Or to do a fix that would probably - maybe- possibly hold, clean the broken section real well, re make the boss with High strength Devcon or JB Weld. Drill and tap the threaded hole, may put a heilcoil for extra insurance.

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Doo Ron Ron and the Duke of Earl are friends of mine.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX8Nj8ABEI8

I thought about some kind of JB weld fix. Then I thought about it coming loose inside the engine at some point and I was a little less enthusiastic about it.

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1961, 1962, 1963 and 1965 Valiant 200. The `65 is a `vert.

Excellent idea about the parts wanted post. Done!

I guess this is a hard way to learn the lesson; chase those threads with a tap, even if you have done so previously! I could have avoided this if I have done so before reassembly.

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1961, 1962, 1963 and 1965 Valiant 200. The `65 is a `vert.

A tap wouldn't have dug a wad of silicone out of the blind hole, it would have done that same thing as the bolt did. (Bottom out against it) Often I have to take a pick and dig out the leftover RTV. Another reason why I use as little of that sealer as I absolutely have to. I run into that BS all the time. RTV a s no substitute for a real, cut gasket.

Where are you? I have a few of'em.

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Sex, drags, and rock & roll.
Dick, 225% crazy.
Hobby (cars, that is) Photos link

Sounds like a winner

I hope we have a winner. This was a very unwelcome development, just when I was in the home stretch of getting this motor back together.

One thing is for certain, I will never forget this lesson. I would never have considered that a piece of rubber would be strong enough to break cast aluminum.

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1961, 1962, 1963 and 1965 Valiant 200. The `65 is a `vert.

"I can't see your retainer from here"

Classic! lol