Hey guys I've been assuming I'd have to do some major surgery to my oil pan to get clearance from my drag link but when I got everything mocked up this afternoon I'm pretty darn close to having enough clearnance...close but not enough. Anyone have any suggestions for an off the shelf oil pan that'll do the trick for me? I attached a couple of pics of my clearances. I also attached a couple drawings of an oil pan I'm considering. The geometry in the photo of the gold milodon pan looks interesting but they dont provide dimensions. appreciate the help. Charlie
Looks like oilpan is loose with no gasket to me....You can extend pitman arm or modify existing pan,move steering box, or space pitman arm down...
thanks I hadnt thought about using a spacer to move the pitman arm down. I'm going to go out to the garage and look at that. the motor could be moved up with spacers or shims as well. Moving hte steering box would be my last option...but it is an option. modifying the pan is what I've assumed I'd be doing all along but I didnt expect the clearance to be as good as it is with the stock pan. that still may be the way I go ulitmately. your right, the oil pan is installed without a gasket.
Instead of buying a new pan,moving the engine,or a steering box re-locate- just drop the link a few inches downward. It's only side to side movement. Guys have been doing it for years sticking stuff where it never came from the factory. PM for details.
I don't know if it's the pictures but it sure looks like the pitman arm and steering link are going to crash into the leaf spring.
I would put the draglink on top of the pitman arm and outer steering arm and use a Moroso style Chevy 11 oil pan
Good eye! Your right I just went out and looked at it and the bolt head will collide with the leaf spring. I'm going to move the drag link to the top of the steering arm and pitman arm instead of the bottom as it is now. Looks like I'll be doing some modifications to the oil pan as I'd originally planned.
To quote my Dad " your best bet is to keep it stock, it almost always works. But if you can't, and I know you won't - you better be good at making parts and figuring this shit out"
Here's the mod we did on the 55's oil pan since the engine was moved forward 3/4" http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=338816
Read years ago about a Mopar that they drilled big holes through the side of the oil pan & welded tubing into it and ran the link through the tubing.
This a Gasser project right! Then move the engine back a little which surely goes with the principles of gasser design and move the steering box forward a little if needed. However my first option is to suggest you go to push/pull style steering and then you will avoid forever the possibility of the front coming down hard and the spring fouling with the pitman arm for whatever reason.
Here is a pic of my 56 with Chevy 2 oil pan and chevy 2 pitman arm. It gets close at lock on either side but it works.
Charlie , i was having the same problem . i just went with the Milodon 30970 pan . The only time it gets close is at full left turn , I know its an expensive pan but man it sure saves on alot of headaches . Summit has them for 275 or so . However if you call summit and tell them about this ad on Amazon , then they will beat the amazon price by a dollar with free shipping . Here is the link to the amazon sale . I just went with summit because of thier easy going return policy just incase i had to return it . http://www.amazon.com/Milodon-30970-Steel-Plated-Street/dp/B000CON53S
hey mac! I was looking at that pan but i thought the dimensions were so close to the stock diimensions I didnt think it was worth the expense. I'm going to take another look at it, but at this point I'm making plans to buy a new stock pan for 35.00 from summit and modifying it. that post by MP&C has got me thinking!! Is your motor in the stock position? I think my issue is my motor is moved forward about an inch.
Mine is forward 3/4 of an inch . I was looking at the pictures and noticed the location of the front of the sump in refrence to the dipstick tube and thought it looked like it would allow enough clearance , when the wheels are straight ahead i am a little over an inch away from the pan , turning right gives more clearance and at full left turn i get really really close . Im going to go with a longer drag link , clock the steering arm a bit and all will be right with the world.
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