Corvette 283 Oil Pan

[G B.]

After studying the '56 - '57 and '58 - '60 Judging Guides, I'm still confused about Corvette 283 oil pans. Were they all the same? In other words, did every Corvette 283 come with a 5 quart capacity pan (not counting the filter canister) with three distinct steps? Did they all have a swinging door or did some models just have a baffle like the passenger cars?

I've also used Google search but I haven't found a tutorial on '57 - '61 Corvette oil pans.

[Wayne L.]

Re: Corvette 283 Oil Pan

I have been told the swinging "trap door" was introduced during 1960 production. Earlier pans used a fixed baffle like the passenger cars. The earlier Corvette pans were all three distinct steps, drain plug centered in the rearward step.

[Ray K.]

Re: Corvette 283 Oil Pan

The Corvette " trap door " oil pan was introduced in the 1960 model under part #3769761 with a P & A catalog reference as " 1960 Corvette with H.L Cam. " My thought was that only the Fuel Injection 290 HP engines had this feature. Earlier 1956-59 Corvettes used Part #3736615, described as 5 quart capacity oil pan.

[Loren L.]

Re: Corvette 283 Oil Pan

#3769761 (accepting RK's #) was a "solid lifter" camshaft oil pan. No trap door pans before this although service replacements later would have their usage broadened (read "Sales Dept.").

[Gary C.]

Re: Corvette 283 Oil Pan

Mr. Lundberg authored a very nice C1 oil article many moons ago.

Gary
....

[G B.]

Summary

Thanks for everyone's input. Here's a summary of the information I've found here and from other sources about Corvette 283 oil pans.

The 283 Corvette engines all had five quart, three-step oil pans. The '57 (and early-'58?) pan, part #?, had an L-shaped baffle with no swinging door. The '58 - '59 (and early-'60?) pan, part #3736615, had a horizontal baffle plate with no swinging door. In 1960 and 1961, the swinging door pan, part #3769761(?), was used with the solid lifter engines. The hydraulic lifter engines continued to use the #3736615 door-less pan in '60 and '61 models.

I don't have enough P&A 30 catalogs to confirm the exact time frames or part numbers for the different pans. If any of you do, please contribute that information to this thread.

[Ray K.]

Re: Summary

The original trap door pan #3769761 was replaced by #3789629 sometime in the early 60's, I believe with the start of '62 production. This pan was available for many years and in later P & A catalogs was the only part number listed for an oil pan for all 1957 - 1962 Corvettes, even tho many of these cars did not have the trap door pan.

[David B.]

Re: Summary

Thanks for everyone's input. Here's a summary of the information I've found here and from other sources about Corvette 283 oil pans.

The 283 Corvette engines all had five quart, three-step oil pans. The '57 (and early-'58?) pan, part #?, had an L-shaped baffle with no swinging door. The '58 - '59 (and early-'60?) pan, part #3736615, had a horizontal baffle plate with no swinging door. In 1960 and 1961, the swinging door pan, part #3769761(?), was used with the solid lifter engines. The hydraulic lifter engines continued to use the #3736615 door-less pan in '60 and '61 models.

I don't have enough P&A 30 catalogs to confirm the exact time frames or part numbers for the different pans. If any of you do, please contribute that information to this thread.

I believe your oil pan conclusion needs a little more attention. Using P & A catalogs for research is not the best way to go since service parts are not always the same as production parts ei #3736615 (commonly referred to as a truck pan because of it's configuration). I am unaware if the early C1 production Corv. 5 qt. oil pan (non trap door) PN #3836800 was ever listed.
The trap door pan #3769761 is listed in the '62 P & A as being replaced 10-61 by #3789629. As mentioned it was available for many years.

[Loren L.]

Re: Summary

Jerry, it's probably heresy to mention it here but the original article can be found in "On Solid Ground", Vol 11, #3, Fall 2004, pgs 11-15. Paragraph 3 reads "Inasmuch as the AIMs deal with engines received as an assembly with oil pans not separated out, a variety of GM Parts Books (PB) will be used for our 'tour'.".
Ray is correct that 3789629 appears in Oct '61 and disappears in Sep '78. Dave's 3736615 appears in Mar '57 and is the subject of 4 pictures in the article. Its usage is expanded in Mar '58 to include 56/8, in Apr '59 to include 59, in Feb 61 to include 60/1 W/O solid lifters, REDUCED in Oct '61 to 56 ONLY and disappears in Oct '64 when #3794060 is listed for '56.

[G B.]

Thanks so much

Loren, that's exactly the kind of info I was seeking.

[Ray K.]

Re: Thanks so much

Loren -- I just might have to review your article again. Thanks.