I just got done on my first really big job, I reringed a 355 that I had. I didn't cut any corners, and I don't want to risk damaging it, but I don't want to replace the oil pan if I don't have to. The oil pressure is still at 60 psi, the pan is a kevko 5 qt, I might just upgrade to a moroso 6 qt. What would you do? My engine hoist is still together, I haven't put the car on the road yet. Do I have to unbolt the crossmember also if I do the job?
I was backing into my garage, and I hit the lip on the concrete, I have worn 205s on the front, but it was my fault, I should've realized it was gonna hit.
But it doesn't leak, and I can't hear anything hitting, it might be interfering with the pickup, I also had a kevko pickup on it. thanks

 

one more pic

 

That's close to the pickup. There's always a possibility that it's now too close to the screen. There's also a possibility that the pickup tube got bent.

I'd yank it off and either hammer out the dent or put on a new pan. Why risk a new engine.

 

Nice car keep up the good work. I'd really like to get into drag racing, when I have the money. I wish I spent my money on a drag car rather than wasting it at Lincoln Tech.

 

I was looking at pictures of this pan side by side with the kevko pan I have now. I think that it would clear an aftermarket 2.5 inch y pipe, but I don't know. I want more than a 5 quart, because I have a hv pump. Any info would be appreciated.

eBay Motors: CHEVY SB SMALL BLOCK 86-UP DRAG RACING OIL PAN 7 QT PBK (item 260003932928 end time Jul-08-06 18:02:33 PDT)

 

It looks like you dinged it at the back, near the tranny bellhousing. If so, there's nothing there for it to hit, except the oil pump itself which is up a couple inches from the bottom of the pan. Given you've still got full oil pressure I'd say you didn't hurt it.

The pickup/screen is at the front of the sump.

Looks like he11, but it won't hurt anything that way. You'll just get reminded of your mistake every time you look at it- which is reason enough to change it out, I guess.

 

I think I'd run it. You might look through the drain hole at the pickup, but I think you'll be fine. If your good with a welder you could weld some bolts to it and use a slide hammer to pull it back out, or use a dent puller and weld the holes up.

 

Yeah, its 100% fine, wont hurt your engine at all. Its just not aesthetically pleasing.

Take the 355, turn it into a 383 and put a new oil pan on.

 

Money is tight right now, my thoughts exactly. I was going to wait till I had the money to make a stroker, than buy the best possible oil pan that I could. I just didn't want to risk it. I don't have a welder otherwise i'd try it. Thanks for the responses guys. Have a good holiday.

 

I think pulling it would still be a good idea...

Was the pickup tube welded to the pump? If not i would be scared it would pop out one day after the pan took a smack like that...

But its up to you, if its still got full pressure and it doesnt leak you can run it and hope for the best.

 

Pull the pan off man, that's too close for comfort. Double check the pickup tube wasn't bent, and give it a good hammering out and you'll be fine.

 

sometimes its better to be safe than sorry.

*I know I just completely retracted my original statement *

 

It was a bolt on pickup, if I pull it off i'm just going to buy a new one. Has anyone used the oil pan I posted a link to, i'd like to get one with more capacity. I'm just worried about the y pipe clearing, but I may go with long tubes. I ran it pretty hard for the first time going down my driveway, and the oil pressure was good. I'm going to put it in the garage and pull it off when I get a chance.

 

if i was going to spend $$$ on an oil pan it would be one of these.

http://www.cantonracingproducts.com/...road_race.html

these guys have built a high tech, very efficent oil pan for the third gen with clearance for a y pipe.

if you don't want to break the bank, search evilbay for a 2 or 3 gate oil pan with windage tray and scraper, i'll try to find the company, i think it was dirt track thunder. same outer dimensions, with a bonus inside!

make sure you get the dipstick on the correct side, the passenger side dipstick is harder to find.

Eric B

 

I will buy a canton pan when I have the money for my stroker build. Right now i'm going to buy the same pan or buy the one I posted a link to. It seems that the 7qt would clear a 2.5 inch y pipe, but I don't know for sure.

 

Be carefull. The oil pan I put on my engine didnt let my y-pipe fit properly. I had to cut a section out of it and clamp in a piece of flex tube exhaust.

Still havent done that yet, I just love the sound of pure headers too much.

 

Today I went to pull the pan off. I removed the distributor for extra clearance, but I still can't get it to clear the bellhousing. I'm now just going to bolt the ****ing thing back on. The pickup wasn't bent, and I just wasted my time, i'm now about to set the car on fire, if one more thing goes wrong. I knew I shouldn't listen to you guys, you'd think one of you have built enough engines to know that it wasn't interfering with anything. I've only built one motor, and I would've bet money it wasn't. Thanks for wasting my time. Say what you want I honestly couldn't give a **** less, these cars are white trash mobiles, and i'm definitely going with a honda next. You can run the same quarter mile times with less power, and get good gas mileage, it's also staying up with the times.

 

Wow! Sounds like your a little pissed and should cool down before making a post about a bad experience. I'm almost certain anyone on this board will take your car off of your hands so you can go buy your honda and be happy with someone else working on it instead of you being able to do anything on it like you can with your 3rd gen. Oh and by the way IBTL.

 

Dude, there are some of the most experienced engine builders and racers you'll ever find on here. There was a very good chance your pickup tube was bent and no one could know for sure just simply looking at pictures of a dented up pan. Aren't you happier knowing it wasn't bent? What if it was?

Obviously you don't have alot of experience (couldn't even remove the oil pan...) if you're coming in here bashing us for trying to help you with your first motor, after you dented the holy hell out of the oil pan. I would have expected this kind of behavior out of a 16 year old, but certainly not a 21 year old. Grow up, act your age and have fun in your 17 second Honda.

 

I guarantee if you were here you wouldn't be able to remove the pan either. The only other thing that I could've done was to unbolt the oil pump, but then if I still can't get the pan out i'm screwed. It's an aftermarket pan, but it was supposed to have the stock dimensions. I will admit I don't have a lot of experience, but I couldn't care less. Working on cars is one of the ****tiest fields in the world, which is why i'm getting out. I had more fun working on my taurus sho than I did this pos. I guarantee just by swapping a motor i'll be running 14s, in a honda. The same ****ing time i'll be running in this useless pos, but it won't sound as good, and you can't get sideways. Is it worth it for the extra noise these cars are white trash ******* mobiles, that's about all I see driving them, and I can almost guarantee you fit in that class Urban Hunter, you need to find something better to do with your time, there's more to life. How much time do you waste on here every day? Say what you want I couldn't care less. Yes, I know I need to grow up, yes
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You children need to take your food fight somewhere else. This Board is for the exchange of technical information regarding third generation Camaros and Firebirds, not for getting your jollies name calling.