SHP 6 QT Oil Pan

[Tom E.]

What 327 Engines used the SHP 6 Qt Oil Pans? I thought it was the 327/350 HP but my owners manual says 4 QT Pan and 5 Qts with filter change.
Thanks Tom

[Larry M.]

Re: SHP 6 QT Oil Pan

The solid lifter engines.

There is some speculation that a few of the very (very) early 1965 327/350 engines received the larger oil pans. But I have no direct proof, only stories.

Larry

[Tom E.]

Re: SHP 6 QT Oil Pan

Thanks Larry, that makes sense now.

[E S.]

Re: SHP 6 QT Oil Pan

Hi- If memory serves- All 327 solid lifter small blocks (340 hp,360 hp, 365 hp,and 375 hp) used the 5 qt pan-(+ 1 qt for filter)
I believe all the 350 hp 327's used the same pan also, but I may stand corrected.
Never heard of a 6 qt pan- (would that be 7 qts. with a filter?)
The 66 owner's guide states: (pg. 46)
Crankcase Refill*
300, 390 H.P. engines.............4 quarts
350, 425 H.P. engines.............5 quarts
* When changing filter add additional- 1 quart

[Joe L.]

Re: SHP 6 QT Oil Pan

The solid lifter engines.

There is some speculation that a few of the very (very) early 1965 327/350 engines received the larger oil pans. But I have no direct proof, only stories.

Larry

Larry------


Not all solid lifter small blocks used the "6 quart" oil pan. All 1963-65 did. Early 1970 LT-1 did. Later 1970 through 1972 LT-1 did not EXCEPT for those installed as part of RPO ZR-1.

[Joe L.]

Re: SHP 6 QT Oil Pan

Hi- If memory serves- All 327 solid lifter small blocks (340 hp,360 hp, 365 hp,and 375 hp) used the 5 qt pan-(+ 1 qt for filter)
I believe all the 350 hp 327's used the same pan also, but I may stand corrected.
Never heard of a 6 qt pan- (would that be 7 qts. with a filter?)
The 66 owner's guide states: (pg. 46)
Crankcase Refill*
300, 390 H.P. engines.............4 quarts
350, 425 H.P. engines.............5 quarts
* When changing filter add additional- 1 quart

EJ-----

Oil pans are typically described by SYSTEM capacity rather than actual capacity of the oil pan. In fact, 4 or 5 quarts is not the actual capacity of either pan. If either pan was filled to the brim it would be way over 4 or 5 quarts. 4 or 5 quarts is the APPROVED FILL CAPACITY of the pan when installed on the engine and is nowhere marked on the pan.

If any L-79 used the "6 quart" oil pan, I believe it was only some 1965.

ALL Corvette big blocks used the same capacity pan and it was "6 quarts" (5+1)

[Rocco S.]

Re: SHP 6 QT Oil Pan

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I always wondered the same thing about the oil pan capacity. I have a 1967 w/ SHP? 327-350 L79 with A/C (HT Code). I am considering adding Power Steering and was worried that there would be interference with the slave cylinder and oil pan if the engine is fitted a 6 quart pan. Here are a few photos of the sump length and Manual Steering Damper. Is this the larger pan? Will power steering fit? Thanks, Rocco
Oil Pan 3.jpgOil Pan 1.jpg

[Keith B.]

Re: SHP 6 QT Oil Pan

63-65 SHP cars did not get the steering damper due to fitment

[Tom E.]

Re: SHP 6 QT Oil Pan

Rocco,
You have the regular oil pan and the stock power steering will bolt right up.
Tom

[Rocco S.]

Re: SHP 6 QT Oil Pan

Thanks Tom. That makes the decision easier. I sure didn't want to change the oil pan. So adding PS is easily reversible too.
That leads me to another question. Why is there a different engine code of L79 with Power Steering? I always assumed it was a different oil pan. Maybe it was for extra crank pulley and pump bracket.
Regards, Rocco

[Keith B.]

Re: SHP 6 QT Oil Pan

I believe it was for the water pump hub dimension for correct pulley alignment

[E S.]

Re: SHP 6 QT Oil Pan

Hi- With respect- I stated that all 327 cu in solid lifter small blocks used the 5qt (plus 1 qt for filter) pan; and I still believe that to be a true statement.
As for the L-79's- (327/350 hp)- I bought a 65 from the original owner in 1976, and it had a 5 qt (plus 1 for the filter) pan.
Although I do not recall the ser. # of that car, I can certainly look it up.
It seems highly unlikely to me that Chev. would change the capacity of a particular engine's oil pan DURING a model year, let alone into the NEXT model year!!- Seems to me that would be a service disaster!!-Also- the 66 owner's guide indicates that the 427's had two different pans, where someone posted all 427's are the same capacity.- the 66 owner's guide also indicates the L-79 (350 hp) uses the "6" qt pan!

[Joe L.]

Re: SHP 6 QT Oil Pan

Hi- With respect- I stated that all 327 cu in solid lifter small blocks used the 5qt (plus 1 qt for filter) pan; and I still believe that to be a true statement.
As for the L-79's- (327/350 hp)- I bought a 65 from the original owner in 1976, and it had a 5 qt (plus 1 for the filter) pan.
Although I do not recall the ser. # of that car, I can certainly look it up.
It seems highly unlikely to me that Chev. would change the capacity of a particular engine's oil pan DURING a model year, let alone into the NEXT model year!!- Seems to me that would be a service disaster!!-Also- the 66 owner's guide indicates that the 427's had two different pans, where someone posted all 427's are the same capacity.- the 66 owner's guide also indicates the L-79 (350 hp) uses the "6" qt pan!

EJ-------

Yes, all solid lifter 327's did use the "6 quart" (5+1) oil pan. However, not all solid lifter small blocks used this pan. The exceptions were as I noted in a previous response. I never stated that some solid lifter 327's did not use the "6 quart" oil pan.

If the 1966 owner's manual says that 1966 427's used two different oil pans then the 1966 owner's manual is incorrect. ALL 1966 Corvettes with L-36 or L-72 were equipped with the same oil pan----GM #3872429. The oil capacity for such 1966 Corvettes was 6 quarts (5+1). Nothing changed for later big blocks. 1967-68 used the same pan as 1965-66. 1969 used GM #3955106 which was also SERVICE for 1965-68 as of October, 1969. 1970-74 used GM #3977591 which after January, 1971 was SERVICE for 1965-69. In January, 1985 oil pan GM #14091356 became the SERVICE oil pan for 1965-74. All of these pans are of essentially the same configuration and all have the exact same capacity.

[Terry M.]

Re: SHP 6 QT Oil Pan

[QUOTE=E J Storrer (49810)
It seems highly unlikely to me that Chev. would change the capacity of a particular engine's oil pan DURING a model year, let alone into the NEXT model year!!- Seems to me that would be a service disaster!![/QUOTE]

Ed,
That scenario might seem highly unlikely, but it is exactly what Chevrolet did during the 1970 model year to the LT1 option. At the beginning of the model year the engine oil pan took 6 quarts and power steering was not an option with the LT1. There was enough customer demand for power steering with that engine that about half way through the model year the LT1 engines got a 5 quart oil pan, and of course the engine suffix code changed as a result.

When we began judging those model years it took us four or five years to figure out what the different suffix codes meant for those engines because, like you, we never expected that kind of change would be made during a model year. Someone said: Never say never, or perhaps in this case "highly unlikely." And yes it was/is a service nightmare since the owner's manual that came with the earlier cars says oil change is 5 quarts + 1 quart for the filter for ALL the small block engines in 1970. The first oil change I did on my early 1970 was very enlightening, but an old timer had taught me to always run the engine briefly, and check the dip stick and look for leaks after making an oil change. I still do that on my fleet today.

Some other time we can talk about changing the oil and checking the oil level on the C6 & C7 with dry sump engines. Those are a real nightmare, and done wrong, serious engine damage can occur. Even Chevrolet dealerships have bought new engines for using the wrong procedure. 'Nuf said because that is off topic.

[E S.]

Re: SHP 6 QT Oil Pan

Hi- Good info.- Thank you!