Correct 58 oil pan

[Steven B.]

Had someone mention to me that the oil pan was not typical for my '58 and wanted to know why. If you look at the pictures, can anyone tell me what I should have. I don't have the full picture, but it is a three step pan. I think the issue was with the ribs and whether they were: 1. not supposed to have them, 2. the wrong configuration of ribs, or something else. The pics will hopefully show most of the areas in question.

thanks in advance.

[Edward L.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

Had someone mention to me that the oil pan was not typical for my '58 and wanted to know why. If you look at the pictures, can anyone tell me what I should have. I don't have the full picture, but it is a three step pan. I think the issue was with the ribs and whether they were: 1. not supposed to have them, 2. the wrong configuration of ribs, or something else. The pics will hopefully show most of the areas in question.

thanks in advance.

The pictured pan is off a passenger car. The Corvette pan should have three smooth steps, not indented like the one in your photo. The correct '58 pan will have two ribs on the sides; one long, one short.

[Steven B.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

Ed: Thanks for the info. Now I understand what he was talking about.

[Bill M.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

I think your pan is correct. There is a thread somewhere that shows a pan like yours as being correct for a '58. I don't see that reflected in the Judging Guide yet.

[Mike M.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

if the 58 vette pans are identical to the 57 vette pans, then the one in your pictures would have incorrect configuration as was noted previously in this thread.mike

[John N.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

Looks similar to 57 pass pan.
Regards

[William C.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

If you do a search of the archives, Loren Lundberg did a full analysis of 57-62 Corvette oil pans that had a lot of pictures. Yours is not typical, and the pictures will make that clear. Worth the search.

[Steven B.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

Thanks Bill, John and Mike:

I located the article from On Solid Ground and have printed in from the archives. Will read and reread it.

Appreciate the help.

steve

[Bill M.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

If you do a search of the archives, Loren Lundberg did a full analysis of 57-62 Corvette oil pans that had a lot of pictures. Yours is not typical, and the pictures will make that clear. Worth the search.

Hi Bill:

I found an excerpt of Loren's article in the archives, and Steven's pan looks like the 3736615 to my (old) eyes. What am I missing?

Unfortunately, I changed out my '59 pan for one of the trap door with windage tray pans in about '64, so I don't have my original early '59 pan to look at.

Thanks.

Bill Mashinter

[Gary C.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

Bill, all C1 V/8 pans are smooth bottomed 3 step pans. The one shown is a passenger car as it has depressed ribs in each side of the middle step and is not smooth. Gary....

[Ted S.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

Steve,

The pan in the pictures is the one that Loren's article states was in the mid '57, mid '58, and mid '59 GM parts manuals for Corvette. I went through this and there seems to be mixed opinions on it. I was told recently to go look an original '60 pan and that was what my '58 should have. My understanding is that the trap door pan as was on the '60 did not come out until '60. If I can find a copy of Loren's article on my back up drive I will send it to you. Maybe someone else knows

The question is whether or not you want to spend the $ to replace it. The last few pans I've seen on EPay have been well north of $500. It may be worth the point deduct to leave it alone.

Just my .02

[Ted S.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

Gary, so this pan does not have the trap door correct?

[Tom D.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

I question the "smooth bottom" and "flat bottom" in the above thread. I agree that the transitions between the three "steps" are smooth, compared to a pass car pan.

However, I do not think the 1960 Hi-perf (trap door inside) version is flat on the bottom. This was PN 3769761. There is a "rounded rectangle" around the drain plug. This small area around the drain plug makes the bottom of the pan "non-flat". Am I right?

Does the low HP Corvette pan in 1960 also have the special area around the drain plug? I know it looks similar, but I think it has more ribs on the side and I know it does not have the trap door inside...

Thanks
td

[Tom D.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

I now believe that my own question was already answered by the photo and drawing above from Gary C.

Thanks!
td

[Justin B.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

I'm confused now (it doesn't take much). My 58' has its complete original engine except for the F.I. unit (still has the F.I. exhaust manifold and distributor) and the oil pan is a 3 step, totally flat on the 3rd. or lowest step and the center step has the 2 deep horizontal depressions. Is the general concensious that mine is incorrect?