Oil cooler, pans, and engine block compatibility
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Oil cooler, pans, and engine block compatibility
My block is at the builders. Yesterday, I (re)measured everything around my oil pan while trying to finalize which pan I should/could use.
I'd forgotten (or never noticed) that one of the oil cooler lines goes directly into the engine block. My question is whether it's likely/unlikely that the "seasoned" 4-bolt main block has provisions for the cooler hose connection.
I believe the block I'm using is out of a late-80's pickup but I don't know the block ID# w/o asking the builder to look.
Bonus question: I've seen ads that say Corvette pans won't fit other chevy's and visa-versa. Is it the longer sump on corvettes that interferes with non-corvette cross-members? And, is it the tapering on the front of Corvette pans that's missing on other SBC pans that prevents the use of "normal" pans on corvettes? Or is pan depth the only obstacle to pan selection for a C4?
Double bonus: When using a pan with kickouts, can they block r/r of the starter? How about installation of the oil cooler adapter? Do kickout pans require installation AFTER an engine r/r?
I'd forgotten (or never noticed) that one of the oil cooler lines goes directly into the engine block. My question is whether it's likely/unlikely that the "seasoned" 4-bolt main block has provisions for the cooler hose connection.
I believe the block I'm using is out of a late-80's pickup but I don't know the block ID# w/o asking the builder to look.
Bonus question: I've seen ads that say Corvette pans won't fit other chevy's and visa-versa. Is it the longer sump on corvettes that interferes with non-corvette cross-members? And, is it the tapering on the front of Corvette pans that's missing on other SBC pans that prevents the use of "normal" pans on corvettes? Or is pan depth the only obstacle to pan selection for a C4?
Double bonus: When using a pan with kickouts, can they block r/r of the starter? How about installation of the oil cooler adapter? Do kickout pans require installation AFTER an engine r/r?
Last edited by GREGGPENN; Jan 11, 2010 at 06:18 PM.
Race Director
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It does. Hole for cooler nipple is in every block.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Australia
Is it the longer sump on corvettes that interferes with non-corvette cross-members? And, is it the tapering on the front of Corvette pans that's missing on other SBC pans that prevents the use of "normal" pans on corvettes? Or is pan depth the only obstacle to pan selection for a C4?
Nipple uses hole that had originally had drain plug in , knock sensor is in similar hole on pass side
Last edited by rodj; Jan 12, 2010 at 06:01 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: folsom california
just finished canton road race pan install with pan kickouts; pan does not interfere with starter installation (stock 1996 lt4 starter) but does require removal of passenger side cat to allow starter to be installed (stock pan allows starter installation without removal of cat). A different, more compact, exhaust system may allow starter installation without removing anything.
be aware that the stock corvette pan is very shallow (6&7/8") and oil pump pickup placement is much more critical than in any other "stock" chevy oil pan.
be aware that the stock corvette pan is very shallow (6&7/8") and oil pump pickup placement is much more critical than in any other "stock" chevy oil pan.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Champ and Canton RR pans are similar depth too. Doesn't the pickup hang near (or at) the bottom of the sump? If so, where does the potential problem come?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Thanks for the info on cooler nipples (petek and rodj).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
the potential problem re fitting a oil pump pickup to a corvette sump is that the pan is very shallow 6&7/8ths inch. Nearly every small block pump uses a press in oil pick which must be rotated to set the pickup to pan clearance. Not terribly difficult when engine is out of car and on an engine stand; not terribly easy if engine is in car. The mounting pedestal for the oil pump on the number five main bearing cap drops 2&5/16th inch below the pan rail. That doesn't leave a lot of room to play with. I use a high volume, high pressure oil pump. A high volume oil pump has a deeper housing and I found, as a general guideline, that the bottom of a high volume oil pump nearly touches the bottom of the pan; if your oil pick up extends below the bottom of the pump casing double check the pickup to pan clearance.
with all that said, the canton pickup locates by bolting on the pump housing and in that sense, the pickup to pan clearance has been set by the manufacturer and is non adjustable. Which eliminates a lot of potential headaches.
with all that said, the canton pickup locates by bolting on the pump housing and in that sense, the pickup to pan clearance has been set by the manufacturer and is non adjustable. Which eliminates a lot of potential headaches.
