Why would a 71 LT-1 oil pan be different than a non LT-1 ? How can you tell if you have a LT-1 oil Pan ?

 

It's different because the L-T1 and L-82 have four bolt mains which have a windage tray secured by the main bolts. The pan is designed to accomidate the windage tray should have different baffleing...hope that helps

 

Anyone have pix of LT-1 pan's insides? I need an oil pan, windage tray, main cap bolts to match for my clone engine and there's a huge car shop\swap meet in a couple of weeks in Charlotte, NC. Thanks!

 

You'll also need a different LT-1 oil pan depending on whether it has power steering or not.

 

The 70-72 LT-1 had a 6 quart oil system, all other small blocks had a 5 quart system. The 70-72 LT-1 used the same pan as the 63-65 340, 350, 360, 365, and 375 horse small blocks. The 5 quart capacity pan (used with the 6 qt. system) has a sump that is much longer than the standard 4 qt. capacity pan. The pan also has a trap door inside of it, to keep oil at the pick up during hard acceleration.

This pan is not being reproduced and used originals in good shape are hard to find and expensive.

I may have some pictures of a NOS one I had a few yew years ago. If I can find them, I'll post them later.

 

 

Glenn knows his sh*t. He also sells nice sh*t!

 

I am not sure I am understanding your reply.

As I understand it, early 70 LT-1's had a 6 QT oil pan , but could not have power steering due to this. The later 70 thru 72 cars all had a 5 QT oil pan , this allowed PS if you wanted it. But the oil pan was the same for all cars. I beleive the difference on late 70 thru 72 oil pan is internal?

Thanks
David

 

I just happened to have my car apart........for the last 11 years.
I dug out my oil pan, hope these pics show up.
Tim
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By the way its off a '71

 

and no power steering.

 

So...no P\S with a real LT-1 pan? Or is there one with a special dimple in the front to accommodate P\S? I have a huge oil pan off a truck but it seems to be far too deep for a 'Vette judging by the pictures.

I want extra capacity and a windage tray for my upgraded '80. Looks like it's swap meet time again.

 

Early in 1970 model year production, LT-1 engines used a large, six quart oil pan and had a broadcast code of "CTU." The oil pan sump extended far enough forward that it interfered with the power steering equipment and as such, could not be installed.

Beginning in late April/early May 1970, the oil pan was redesigned with a smaller sump to accomodate power steering (the change also had the effect of lowering capacity as well). These 1970 LT-1 engines with the redesigned oil pan carried the broadcast code "CTK" and were used in all 1970 LT-1/power steering applications.

"CTU" engines continued to be used in non power steering applications in 1970 until the inventory was depleted; after that, "CTK" engines were used in either instance. The smaller pan was used in all 1971-1972 LT-1 applications.

All 1970 ZR-1 engines ("CTV") used the larger oil pan from the early 1970 LT-1... I'm afraid that I don't recall which pan the 1971-1972 ZR-1s used, but if I had to guess, it was probably the larger pan.

Here are some photos of the early style pan. Compare these to Tim's photos from his 1971 LT-1... The extended length of the sump on the early pan makes it impossible to mount the power steering hardware without clearance issues.





Regards,

Stan Falenski

 

I was always of the opinion that when P/S became an option on the LT-1s, that they just used the regular L-48 4 qt pan on P/S cars, and continued to use the 5 qt pan on non P/S LT-1s.

The pan in Stan's picture is part # 3956670. According to various Corvette Parts books, it was used on all 63-65 solid lifter engines and "69-72 (350) w/Sp. H/Per.". Sp. H/Per. (Special High Performance) is Chevrolet Parts speak for the LT-1. Notice that they include 1969. To this day, Chevrolet parts books still believe they built 69 LT-1s, even though it was cancelled because they didn't have enough of the shared parts to build both LT-1s and it's smaller sister, the DZ Z28 302s.

Both my 1970 and 72 Corvette Parts Books note that the 4 qt. pan, part # 3820000, was for use only on "70-72 (350) (exc. Sp. H/Per.)", while they list the 5 qt. pans usage for all 70-72s with the LT-1. Every one of my Corvette Parts Books (I have more than a dozen dated between 69-83) show that the 5 qt pan was used on all 70-72 LT-1s, but as I noted, the Parts Books also believe that the LT-1 was offered in 69 too. Obviously they're not perfect.

As an FYI, 63-65 327 250 & 300 horse cars came with a steering stabilizer, if power steering wasn't ordered. High horse 63-65s didn't use the stabilzer because the big sump on the 5 qt. 3956670 pan, wouldn't clear the stabilzer (or a P/S slave cylinder, either). Chevrolet elimnated the steering stabilzers altogether in 69.

Based on the Parts Books, that is why I believed that GM may have just substituted the 4 qt. pan for the 5 qt. one, when P/S was specified.Very Interesting!

 

6QT "big pan" was used on most 70 LT-1 Vettes and all 70-72 ZR-1 option LT-1 cars. LT-1 with power steering is same pan as L-48 350 motor. Oil pump pick-ups are all the same, special one for Vette only sold my Melling or Chevy.

I once owned a 65 365HP coupe that had a rather interesting oil pan modifiaction for power steering: Bubba cut away the front sump of the oil pan and brazed a 1/4 section of 2.5" exhaust tubing to the oil pan, and slathered it with silicone sealer (one of Bubbas favorite materials to use.)

Price seems to have come down on those 6Qt pans on Ebay they were $500 and now $200 thanks to Obama's economic sucesses.

 

 

In 1989 when I built the engine in my '69, I ordered a new pan and windage tray from Chevrolet. I received what I thought was a LT-1 pan and the correct windage for that pan. I thought it was the so-called 6 quart pan, but if I put 6 quarts in the engine (with an new filter) the level comes well above the full mark. 5 to 5½ quarts seems to be what puts it on the full mark. I have always been a bit confused as to what pan I have. Here are some photos I took when I replaced the high volume pump with a Melling high pressure (LT-1 Z28) pump.

Pan from inside. The shallow part ends at about the 3rd bolt, like Kid Vette's.


This view mainly to show the flap or trap door.


This view shows the length of the deep part of the pan.


The tray that supposedly goes with the pan.


I DO NOT have power steering. There is ~2½" between the pan and the track or relay rod. Not enough for a power steering ram??? If anybody can shed light on what I have, it will be appreciated.


Pete

 

'72 LT-1 oil pan with P/S

 

Ken, I like you're new avatar.
Regards
Roy

 

The 6qt oil pan is the only one with a swinging "trap door" oil baffle, the 5qt pan has baffling but, the pan in your photos with a piano hinged "trap door" is the solid lifter Hi-perf 6qt oil pan.

 

Could I have some clarification on what people refer to as a 4 qt, 5 qt, 6 qt pan? Does this number include the quantity of oil in the filter (5 qt pan) i.e. pan capacity is 5 qts + the almost 1 qt in the filter?

I purchased a stock appearing pan with a trap door, etc., and when I change oil, I fill up the filter first and the put the balance of that qt, along with 5 more qts into the engine. The pan is advertised as being 1 qt over stock.

Thanks,