[GEBackbone]

I just replaced my tired 283 with a Smeding 383. First fire went great, I drove around for an hour then made a u-turn. My center link/inner tie-rod punctured a hole in the new oil pan which is square towards the front as opposed to my old oil pan which was rounded towards the front. What's the best fix for this?
Thanks in advance Gary

 

[MikeN]

Because Chevelles are rear-steer cars (steering linkage is aft of the centerline between the spindles) non-stock oil pans are often problematic. In your shoes I'd go back to a stock pan.

 

[Rich-L79]

Because Chevelles are rear-steer cars (steering linkage is aft of the centerline between the spindles) non-stock oil pans are often problematic. In your shoes I'd go back to a stock pan.

Chevelles have the steering linkage at the front.

But to the original post, replacing the oil pan as a whole would be the best fix. Trying to repair the punctured pan may be an option, but since it is already compromised a whole new pan would be the proper fix. I'd also suggest pulling the engine to replace the pan, seems like more work but in the end it will be easier and make for a more proper repair.

 

[MikeN]

LOL, you are correct!

 

[lucifershammer]

I just replaced my tired 283 with a Smeding 383. First fire went great, I drove around for an hour then made a u-turn. My center link/inner tie-rod punctured a hole in the new oil pan which is square towards the front as opposed to my old oil pan which was rounded towards the front. What's the best fix for this?
Thanks in advance Gary

It sounds like you have the wrong oil pan (square pan with no impressions), so the best fix is to pull it and put in the correct pan with the impressions for the steering linkage clearance.

 

[mark f]

It sounds like you have the wrong oil pan (square pan with no impressions), so the best fix is to pull it and put in the correct pan with the impressions for the steering linkage clearance.

Where would a person get the correct dimpled oil pan? Is there a brand that makes them, or a part number? I am asking because I to poked a hole in my oilpan on my 65. I removed the zerk fittings from the inner tierod ends and put in plugs. The new oilpan that I found to replace the one that had the hole did not have the dimples.

 

[lucifershammer]

Where would a person get the correct dimpled oil pan? Is there a brand that makes them, or a part number? I am asking because I to poked a hole in my oilpan on my 65. I removed the zerk fittings from the inner tierod ends and put in plugs. The new oilpan that I found to replace the one that had the hole did not have the dimples.

For a small block, I believe it's not dimpled, but just not squared off so it has the impressions moving inwards towards the front.

For a big block, I think it actually has dimples.

I did a quick search at Summit (and not commenting on the quality of any of the below, just the shape) and I believe these are the right fit pans:

Small block:

1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE ATP Automotive 103036 ATP Engine Oil Pans | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - ATP Engine Oil Pans with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Oil Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Dorman 264-104 Dorman Oil Pans | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Dorman Oil Pans with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Oil Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

Big Block:

1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Summit Racing SUM-G3533 Summit Racing™ Stock Replacement Oil Pans | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Summit Racing™ Stock Replacement Oil Pans with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Oil Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Mr. Gasket 9779K Mr. Gasket Oil Pans | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Mr. Gasket Oil Pans with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Oil Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

BTW - here is an example of a small block pan that is squared off and will most likely hit the steering. It is unfortunate they say this will work, as it most likely will not.

1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Mr. Gasket 9781 Mr. Gasket Chrome Plated Oil Pans | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Mr. Gasket Chrome Plated Oil Pans with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Oil Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

 

[mark f]

Factory V8 oilpans for 64-65 had "dimples" in them at the point where the inner tie rods would otherwise hit the oilpan. I know because I had one, unfortunately it was made unusable by a rod cap exiting through it.

 

[Rich-L79]

Factory V8 oilpans for 64-65 had "dimples" in them at the point where the inner tie rods would otherwise hit the oilpan. I know because I had one, unfortunately it was made unusable by a rod cap exiting through it.

No they don't. Only big block oil pans have the dimples for the Chevelle applications. Refer to the photo I posted above, that is my 65 with the original oil pan, no dimples. I've never seen a stock small block oil pan with dimples for the tie rods.

Here are some more detail shots, engine is an original 65 327.

 

[mark f]

Hmm

 

[mark f]

I stand corrected. My apology's to anyone I may have mislead.

 

[GEBackbone]

Because Chevelles are rear-steer cars (steering linkage is aft of the centerline between the spindles) non-stock oil pans are often problematic. In your shoes I'd go back to a stock pan.

The new engine is a 383 stroker with a one piece rear oil seal, don't think I can use stock oil pan.

 

[GEBackbone]

For a small block, I believe it's not dimpled, but just not squared off so it has the impressions moving inwards towards the front.

For a big block, I think it actually has dimples.

I did a quick search at Summit (and not commenting on the quality of any of the below, just the shape) and I believe these are the right fit pans:

Small block:

1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE ATP Automotive 103036 ATP Engine Oil Pans | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - ATP Engine Oil Pans with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Oil Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Dorman 264-104 Dorman Oil Pans | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Dorman Oil Pans with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Oil Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

Big Block:

1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Summit Racing SUM-G3533 Summit Racing™ Stock Replacement Oil Pans | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Summit Racing™ Stock Replacement Oil Pans with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Oil Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Mr. Gasket 9779K Mr. Gasket Oil Pans | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Mr. Gasket Oil Pans with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Oil Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

BTW - here is an example of a small block pan that is squared off and will most likely hit the steering. It is unfortunate they say this will work, as it most likely will not.

1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Mr. Gasket 9781 Mr. Gasket Chrome Plated Oil Pans | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Mr. Gasket Chrome Plated Oil Pans with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Oil Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

For a small block, I believe it's not dimpled, but just not squared off so it has the impressions moving inwards towards the front.

For a big block, I think it actually has dimples.

I did a quick search at Summit (and not commenting on the quality of any of the below, just the shape) and I believe these are the right fit pans:

Small block:

1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE ATP Automotive 103036 ATP Engine Oil Pans | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - ATP Engine Oil Pans with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Oil Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Dorman 264-104 Dorman Oil Pans | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Dorman Oil Pans with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Oil Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

Big Block:

1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Summit Racing SUM-G3533 Summit Racing™ Stock Replacement Oil Pans | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Summit Racing™ Stock Replacement Oil Pans with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Oil Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Mr. Gasket 9779K Mr. Gasket Oil Pans | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Mr. Gasket Oil Pans with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Oil Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

BTW - here is an example of a small block pan that is squared off and will most likely hit the steering. It is unfortunate they say this will work, as it most likely will not.

1965 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE Mr. Gasket 9781 Mr. Gasket Chrome Plated Oil Pans | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Mr. Gasket Chrome Plated Oil Pans with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Oil Pans at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

That's correct, my original pan was rounded towards the front, however my new engine is a 383 stroker with one piece rear oil seal.

 

[MikeN]

Yes, with a 383 you have to use a pan notched to clear the rods. I would bet Moroso makes one compatible with a 383 that is pretty close to a stock shape.

 

[oldcutlass]

Look and see if there is an alternative hole in your tie rods for grease fittings so they are not pointed towards the pan. If not grease them and then use fitting plugs until the next time you grease them.

 

[1971-Chevelle]

If your engine has the dipstick on the driver side, then this pan should work. I have a Champ pan on my 383 and have no issues with it. If the dipstick is on the pasenger side, then I would call them up and see if they have one that will work. However, the first thing I would do is contact the builder and ask them if they think the Champ pan would work.

CP40RB

Stock appearing steel wet sump oil pan that's NHRA approved for Small Block Chevrolet 1986-2003

www.champpans.com

 

[GEBackbone]

Where would a person get the correct dimpled oil pan? Is there a brand that makes them, or a part number? I am asking because I to poked a hole in my oilpan on my 65. I removed the zerk fittings from the inner tierod ends and put in plugs. The new oilpan that I found to replace the one that had the hole did not have the dimples.

I had the oil pan modified to create a dimple in the area where the centerlink hits but I still haven't been able to find a zerk plug. Do you have any more details on the plugs you used? I tried a 1/16 28 NPT plug and it was too big....
thanks Gary

 

[GEBackbone]

If your engine has the dipstick on the driver side, then this pan should work. I have a Champ pan on my 383 and have no issues with it. If the dipstick is on the pasenger side, then I would call them up and see if they have one that will work. However, the first thing I would do is contact the builder and ask them if they think the Champ pan would work.

CP40RB

Stock appearing steel wet sump oil pan that's NHRA approved for Small Block Chevrolet 1986-2003

www.champpans.com

The engine builder suggested a Moroso 20212 pan which will fit the front and is made for a 1 piece rear seal however it hangs 1" lower than my crossmember as it's a 6 quart pan as opposed to the 4 quart pan I have now. I'm having the pan modified with small dimples towrds the front to make room for the centerlink-tie rod area. Now I just need to find the right size fitting plugs to put the zerk spot to make more room. I intend to just remove plug and replace with zerk annually on maintenance..

 

[71350SS]

A couple of years back there was a reasonably priced BBC oil pan that was available from Advance autoparts.It was a Canada built part from a company that builds gas tanks too.But maybe they have a similar oil pan for a SBC ?

Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

Spectra is the company their Spectra Premium BBC oil pans are the ones that were used and recommended by a number of people on TC a short while back.

 

[Jim's69Ragtop]

I have ATI built, late 90's small block (350) with the one piece rear seal. ATI recommended the Moroso 20172 (5 quart) which fit without any interference (or dimples).