I just dropped in my 383 in my 86' camaro...It sounds like I have a rod hitting the pan on both the front and the rear. The "easy" solution would be to get a deeper pan,but the front of the pan is sitting right on the center link of my steering system!!! ...Anybody have a miracle cure?

 

Ummm, well,....how can I put this gently.............no.

If its hitting it needs to come out.

Did you check for clearances by rotating the assembly before putting it in the car??

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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R

GO #3

[This message has been edited by Engineboy (edited October 11, 2000).]

 

Yes, and there didnt seem to be any problems.

 

86,

My guess is that the pan got flexed upward as the engine was being installed. The drag link may be putting just enough pressure on the pan to flex it into the rotating assembly.

Can you possibly alter the engine mounts to get a little more installed height in the engine compartment? If you are using the original mounts, they may have worn to the point of sagging. Steel mounts, or custom raised mounts may give you the space you need.

You could also try modifying the drag link, but then you'd have a one-of-a-kind and potential problems later.

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Later,
Vader
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"Make Me Bad"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0

[This message has been edited by Vader (edited October 11, 2000).]

 

I missed the part about the pan sitting ON the centerlink...DOH!!

As Vader said above, I would try to alter the engine height.

Can you un-bolt the long motor mount bolts and chain it with a cherry picker, raise it up just enough to clear the centerlink, then start it to see if the noise is gone??



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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R

GO #3

 

It sounds to me like you have a truck pan. Those are shaped differently around that area.

I have a 400 in my 83; it has the old 6-quart Z28 (early 2nd gen) pan on it, with a Moroso windage tray. I have no problem with any of that hitting either the crank or the center link. It fits the stock HO (HUGE) exhaust as well, and also now the TES Y-pipe.

If your pan hits the center link, you need a different pan obviously. A deeper pan is not the answer. Virtually any pan is deep enough to accommodate the crank & rods. The part of the pan that hits the link isn't hitting the crank, but it may have tweaked the pan so that it hits elsewhere. The most likely place is on the pass side next to the starter, right near the rail, where the pan is the narrowest to clear the starter.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."

 

The block is an 80'-85' and I didnt specify car or truck when I ordered it