Next weekend I am finally swapping the 400 SBC into my brother's 87' GTA. He has a typical set of shorty headers with 2 1/2" y-pipe that goes under the engine between the crossmemeber and the oil pan sump.

We can not use the late-model one piece seal oil pan on the 400. We have the original 1975 pan on the 400 right now (stock 4 quart, not oversized).

Is everything likely to clear the pan? It looks about the same size/shape as the 350's pan. If anything, it looks a little smaller.

Anyone have expereince with this?

 

I don't know if it will clear or not, but Moroso sells an 8 quart pan that fits our cars. If you don't want to buy a new pan anything from '82 to '86 out of an F-Body will fit. I have a '76 350 four bolt in my car right now.

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'89 Red Formula 350- 350 .060 over forged pistons 232* @ .020 cam Performer RPM Holley 750 DP Vortec 1.94 1.50 Accel Coil and dist. Hedman shorty headers Dual Exhaust w/ cutouts 1LE WS6 suspension, wheels, and brakes, 9 Bolt 3.27 Posi Edelbrock LCA's & Track bar subframe connectors 700R4 Harwood snorkel scoop Eclipse Head Unit Delco Bose Speakers 2 12" Pioneer subs w/ 400 watt/chanel amp

 

Thanks, I appreciate the reply. I assume you have the 350 in there with the 8 quart pan, right? I measured the pan on the 400 now and it LOOKS like it will fit, but it's kinda hard to tell when the old engine is still in the car. The 400 pan is externally identical to an early (1975) 350 pan so I know it's not a difference specifically with the 400 oil pan- it's only going to be a year-to-year kinda difference.

I know an early 3rd gen pan will fit- that's my backup plan. I was jsut wondering if I should go buy it now and be ready or try what I've got on the 400 already.

Fortunately (or unfortunately) we'll find out tomorrow. My brother's coming up tonight and gonna swap the motor in tomorrow (ahead of schedule). Wish me luck.

 

Im going threw the sam crap.My SLPs y pipe doesent even come close to clearing my 6qt Moroso pan.Most likly you will have to have a custom ypipe made.

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Check out my Hompage,or the beginnings of one.355 dynoed at 400HP at 5800RPM & 410LBFT of TQ,on Motorhttp://www.procharged89z.cz28.com/index.html

 

Actually, it's looking good so far. Old motor out this AM, new motor in this afternoon. Took some measurements of the original 350 pan and the 400 pan. They look pretty close to IDENTICAL in external dimensions. Once the motor goes in we'll know for sure, but it looks good so far (12:00pm Tuesday).

Keep in mind this is a STOCK 4 quart pan in both cases. I can understand how some aftermarket pans could cause clearance problems if they weren't designed for a 3rd gen in particular- and one with a y-pipe going underneath.

I was just concerned the overall shape of the pan just in front of the sump in particular where the exhaust crosses under, would be very different but it doesn't look that way.

 

I have your 400 combo in my car right now and it's fine......plenty of room

 

i didnt know the pans where different on the 350 to 400's. hey quick, what kind of setup are you running? i just found a 400 for my bird. what cam and stuff? just wondering. thanks.

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Wide Open Till You See God...Then Brake

 

QuickZ gets the gold star. It dropped in like it was made for the car. No problems whatsoever. There are no differences between the 350 and 400 pan that I know of except that the old style 400 uses a driver's side block mounted dipstick versus the late model 350's passenger side mounted dispstick with the longer tube.

My brother's 400 combo is a Miniram intake with 32# SVO injectors, Trick Flow gen 2 aluminum heads, a relatively mild 270 grind flat tappet cam in the 400's belly, Crane roller rockers and a pump gas frendly 9.8:1 compression ratio. It's an old mass air style FI system with a high flow TPIS MAF sensor, spome brand of 1 3/4" shorty headers going into a 2 1/2" y-pipe, 3" cat and cat-back (SLP) and a stock ignition warmed up with an MSD box setup. Custom chip to run it, natch. It should knock down mid-high 12s on street tires all day long.