Replacing Oil Pan

[201fireman]

Next week I will be upgrading my upper end with aluminum heads and some other goodies. My oil pan is pretty beat up so I am thinking I will replace it (and possibly a nicer timing cover) as long as it has to come down to put in the new cam. Can anyone give any input into these questions.

 

1. Aluminum pan, steel pan, or doesn't matter?

 

2. 5 qt. or 7 qt. or doesn't matter?

 

3. If 7 qt. is the way to go, will I need a new oil pump (current one is already a new high volume one)?

[Sam (Bones)]

anything but a chrome one

 

you may need a different pick-up for the pump depending on what pan you choose

 

don't know your engine or plans so it's hard to tell if you need the extra capacity

 

I like Milodon pans

[footballubet]

The chrome pans are very notorious for leaking. If not going big on the rebuild then a stock pan would be more than sufficient since you already have a high volume pump.

 

Go with the one piece oil pan gasket and longer bolts when you do replace it. You'll like it.

[dbreese]

Agree with Sam and Scott. Stay away from the chrome pans. Milodon is good stuff and I have had good luck with Moroso. If your engine mild a stock style pan from any of the two mentioned would suffice.

 

If your engine is gnarly and is gonna see some track time you could step up to something with a windage tray and crank scraper. This is the one I have on my engine http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mor-20191/overview/

 

David

[Rock]

Nice thick aluminum pan would be what I would buy. I replaced my transmission pan with aluminum and it has been as dry as a bone. No more leaking onto the garage floor.

[Mike 57]

What engine do you have in your Monte?

With a high volume pump a higher capacity oil pan may be a good idea.

Try to find a pan with windage control.

There are some nice aluminum timing covers out there. they stay nicer than the china chrome.

[201fireman]

Sorry about that, I guess I could have given a little more info. I have a 355 engine. right now it is pretty close to stock with a mild cam. Going in are Edelbrock RPM aluminum heads and a 548 lift cam (hyd. roller). It has an Eaton trutrac 12 bolt posi with Richmond 3:55 gears. I am also looking at a 2400 stall converter. Any thoughts on that converter? Sound ok?

 

I think I am leaning toward the 7 qt. pan. Now I just need to find out how to figure what pick up I need.

[Mike 57]

When you choose a pan there should be a list of suggested pickups for the chosen pan. Look at he link Dave provided, there is a suggested parts tab that lists the pickups. Nice pan by the way, it would be an excellent way to go.

[bigtankjones]

Also stay away from Chrome timing covers to. I wish someone would have posted this sometime back. I wasted money on a chrome pan and timing cover only to have them sitting in my scrap yard pile now.