Oil pickup/pan depth
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 243
Oil pickup/pan depth
I put a decent size ding in the front of my LT1 oil pan. I had a floor jack slip - in short, I made a stupid mistake and dented the pan. Other than the pan, my pride is the only thing hurt.
I spot welded a washer to the pan and used a bar through it as leverage to pop the dent out best I could. And while I got 99% of that dent out, I put a pinhole in my pan with the weld. Welded that pin hole closed and I’m not leaking but I’m also just not happy with it. The Vette LT1 pans are very expensive for used and poor condition examples that I found. So, I picked up a F body pan for under $80. It’s not OEM, but rather a Dorman brand made in Canada. It looks and feels like an OEM. It looks like it will fit without a problem. Especially with my aluminum/poly motor mounts, the motor sits high if anything. I’m not worried about bottoming it. I think the ZF bell will still hang lower. The F body pan is probably 3/4” or so deeper. Is there detriment to running without adjusting the pickup tube? It’ll still be buried in just as much oil depth as with the Vette pan but with obviously the additional 3/4” clearance below.
I spot welded a washer to the pan and used a bar through it as leverage to pop the dent out best I could. And while I got 99% of that dent out, I put a pinhole in my pan with the weld. Welded that pin hole closed and I’m not leaking but I’m also just not happy with it. The Vette LT1 pans are very expensive for used and poor condition examples that I found. So, I picked up a F body pan for under $80. It’s not OEM, but rather a Dorman brand made in Canada. It looks and feels like an OEM. It looks like it will fit without a problem. Especially with my aluminum/poly motor mounts, the motor sits high if anything. I’m not worried about bottoming it. I think the ZF bell will still hang lower. The F body pan is probably 3/4” or so deeper. Is there detriment to running without adjusting the pickup tube? It’ll still be buried in just as much oil depth as with the Vette pan but with obviously the additional 3/4” clearance below.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 243
Thanks for the reply.
To be honest, I’m not sure what oil pump/pickup the F body application calls for.
The Dorman part number for the pan is 264-107. The box is labeled both Dorman and Spectra and the pan has a Canadian made label.
The pump in the engine is a Melling M155 with Melling 254S pickup.
To be honest, I’m not sure what oil pump/pickup the F body application calls for.
The Dorman part number for the pan is 264-107. The box is labeled both Dorman and Spectra and the pan has a Canadian made label.
The pump in the engine is a Melling M155 with Melling 254S pickup.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
Thanks for the reply.
To be honest, I’m not sure what oil pump/pickup the F body application calls for.
The Dorman part number for the pan is 264-107. The box is labeled both Dorman and Spectra and the pan has a Canadian made label.
The pump in the engine is a Melling M155 with Melling 254S pickup.
To be honest, I’m not sure what oil pump/pickup the F body application calls for.
The Dorman part number for the pan is 264-107. The box is labeled both Dorman and Spectra and the pan has a Canadian made label.
The pump in the engine is a Melling M155 with Melling 254S pickup.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
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Drifting
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,760
Likes: 647
From: USA
How about taking your original pan to a good metal shop and have it repaired properly....you're talking about having to remove it anyway to replace it. Any skilled metal guy/gal should be able to "massage" it back into shape and seal it up. I would personally go that route, just my $0.02, good luck👍
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,972
Likes: 243
It crossed my mind and I may yet down the line. For now speed and convenience is to replace. Not even sure we have a skilled metal guy around here! I’ll admit I didn’t look. It took me something like 6 weeks just to find a trustworthy machine shop and I had to travel more than an hour away. These skills are fading away.
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
Don't know if you want to go down that road but TPIS used to sell racing pans for C4s. Seems like someone told me they still were 1-2 yrs ago. Although, Jim -- the owner -- is getting older, slower and some question how much longer he'll be in the biz? Maybe someone can chime in -- if that's a reasonable idea.
Or....https://www.summitracing.com/parts/m...ette/year/1994
Or....https://www.summitracing.com/parts/m...ette/year/1994
Last edited by GREGGPENN; Dec 6, 2023 at 11:08 PM.