you should be fine. depends what bolt it is but most likely youll be fine

 

well thats some relief! Any one ever experienced this problem? or had a focus missing a bolt on the pan? Any one else?

 

I'm replacing the valvebody in two weeks, I'll let you know.

 

Um, there's only supposed to be so many inch-lbs on those bolts. Your rubber gasket should be fine. No extra torque needed. A very thin coat of RTV on both sides of the gasket in the area near the bolt might help keep things glued.

Anyway, if that had happened to me, what I'd do is RTV the seal instead of using the gasket. Not only would I RTV it, but I'd use a slow setting RTV like gray which takes something like 2 hours to set, and 24 hrs to completely cure. Use the RTV on the transmission, and use a fairly decent amount evenly across the the pan. Wipe any excess into the groove where the pan meets the transmission. Let it cure for the recommended time before adding fluid.

In case you didn't know, gray is what most manufacturers use for engine assembly. It takes longer to set and cure, but lasts longer and makes a better seal on oil type seals. IIRC it can be used on coolant seals as well, but I can't really remember. The only drawback is that long set and cure time- which is a plus in some situations if you have the time to wait. Don't use copper, I can't find anything that copper is good for except around some coolant passages on head gaskets- and most typical style gaskets come with it installed anyway. It might be more useful on custom FI or copper head gaskets- I've never installed those myself.

 

You can dremel away the remains of the bolt and easyout with a small carbide bit......

 

Posted via FF Mobile I`ve had to drill next to an easy out.... Dremel cut off might slot it to turn out, or remove enough around for small pliers to grab... Screw in easy outs often expand the old bolt, making it stick more - small bolts are such fun.... Good thing you can get away without it if it won`t come out...