Big Block oil pans - Help

[Tom Bishop]

I have a 69 427 400HP with P/S & No A/C. Is there a difference in oil pans for vehicles with p/s versus standard steering? The p/s cylinder does not want to clear the pan & I wonder if the wrong pan was installed when the engine was rebuilt? Are the Vette p/s pans unique?
Thanks

[Craig S.]

Re: Big Block oil pans - Help

All the BB Corvette pans are the same and they are completely different configuration to clear the steering components. They have a longer sump than the passenger car pans, with less slope to the front, allowing clearance. The pan in it's current version is GM 14091356, with a list of $121.43, and you can buy it from gmpartsdirect.com for $85 plus $17 shipping for a total of $102. FYI, the picture of this pan on the gmpartsdirect website is incorrect, it shows the passenger car pan like you probably have. The oil drain hole is in the rear not the side, and the sump shape is different from the picture. Also, there is a trap door baffle in the Corvette pan...Craig

[Craig S.]

Re: Big Block oil pans - Help - correction

I incorrectly stated all BB vette pans were the same, I know Joe will chime in with the exact variations, they wer BASICALLY the same. There were minor differences with changes to eliminate the hole in the front timing cover after 1966, and elimination of the reinforcements in the corner bolts somewhere around 1969. There were probably minor differences in the pan I reference as currently available from the 69-74 production version as well. However, all are functionally interchangeable and will clear your steering. Here's the website for Flow Chevrolet:


http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/

[Joe L.]

Re: Big Block oil pans - Help

Tom------

Although there were at least 3 different PRODUCTION part numbers and 1 SERVICE-only part number, the basic configuration of all 1965-74 Corvette oil pans was/is the same. There was absolutely no difference between oil pans for Corvette big blocks equipped or not with power steering.

The Corvette big block oil pans were unique to the Corvette chassis application and were not used for other Chevrolet applications. They will not fit certain other Chevrolet chassis applications, notably Chevelles.

By the same token, there were other big block oil pans that were not originally used in Corvettes, although they may fit a Corvette chassis application under certain circumstances. Power steering may be one of the "circumstances" that will cause the non-Corvette oil pans to be unusable in a Corvette application.

If you have an oil pan with a side oil drain, it is NOT a Corvette oil pan. No Corvette big block oil pan ever had a side drain. If the pan has a rear drain, then it may or may not be a Corvette oil pan. There are NO part numbers stamped anywhere on a Corvette oil pan to aid identification.

[Larry Daigle]

Re: THANK YOU TOO!

Just finished sanding, and ready to paint orange my new oil pan, this will save me a big hassle, Its got the side oil drain, and I new the sump area was smaller but the depth was correct so I thought I was fine,,,,,,NOT! also had a 80's 454 pan "GM" but it must have been from a truck??? oil drain on the bottom, deeper sump area, and was blue! Thanks it stopped me just in time!! Now I can save the chevy orange for the right part, that paint ain't cheap!

[Craig S.]

Re: THANK YOU TOO!

Larry - make sure if necessary you change the oil pickup screen to match the pan, GM had several to match the various pans. GM P/N 6269895 gives the correct 4.94" distance from pan rails to screen for the Corvette pan. Good luck!....Craig

[Tom Bishop]

Re: THANK YOU TOO!

Well I'm glad my question helped out someone else. Thank you all for your input.
Tom