Correct 58 oil pan

[Bill M.]

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?

How many quarts of oil do you use when you change oil and filter?

[Loren S.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

Yep - the pictured 3736615 pan shown in Loren Lundberg's article as correct for 1957 - 59? Corvettes has the two depressions in the middle step:

[Ian G.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

I ended up buying this pan (the pan Loren indicated as 3736615) on ebay for my 59 and did some follow up with Tim Mickey, who is the 58-60 technical lead and he said this pan is NOT correct for 58-60, that it is a passenger pan. Someone else on the board indicated it was actually another part number altogether. Loren Lundgren, if you're on the board, can you comment on what your source was in regard to indicating this pan wa correct for the years stated in your article? Most of the older members on the board have also been saying this pan is incorrect for 58-60. I did see another string indicating this pan MIGHT be correct for a late 56 -- maybe up to early 58. The pan I bought, does have what appears to be original reddish paint they used in 1956. Can anyone confirm that this pan (the one with the oil channels on the second step) is correct for ANY year corvette as far as NCRS is concerned?

I'll post pics of my exact pan later this evening.

[Stewart A.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

At $500 bucks there should be a clearer ruling on this. The last thing we need to do Ian is buy a pan that is the incorrect.
Again back to technical photos on the site for reference on top flight cars again would be helpful.
I don't like grey areas when you could make a $500 buck mistake plus freight.
That hurts !!!!

[Gary C.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

Gentlemen, pans B, C, D in Loren's article will not pass muster for '57 Corvette Judging as they are '57 passenger car pans as they have the recessed ribs on the outer edges of the middle step. The photo I posted previously and copied link to this post is a '57 Corvette pan. Believe the same pan was used in '58. Gary....

[Justin B.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

Lorens Photos And Info. Say That The Indented Step Is Correct For 1957, 1958, 1959....right? If So, This Would Explain Why My Original Engine 58' Would Still Have This Pan On It.
No Offense But The Same Team Leader Told Me That My Rpo684 Leaf Springs Were Incorrect When Multiple Previous Articles With Blueprints And Illustrations Described Them As 100% Correct. Maybe It Was Just His Ussumption Since He Hadn't Ever Seen An Original Set. Too Me, Lorens Info. Would Be Proof. Am I Wrong In My Thinking?

[Gary C.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

Justin, all I can say is the Mike McCagh, John Neas and others on this thread including me have all said the photo that Steven posted when he started this thread is a passenger car pan not a Corvette oil pan. Gary....

[Rod K.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

Gary,

The March '57 Parts & Accessories Catalog ('28-'57), at least my reprint of it, shows the 3736615 pan to which Loren refers as the correct one listed for '57 Corvette and Ser 6 (8 cyl). I do not find 3735642 which you show listed for any application, but 3735640 is listed for other '57 V8. So, the question is, is 3735642 one of those items Joe Lucia often notes as assy line only and not available as SERVICE parts, or is the picture Loren shows not really a 3736615, or did Loren base his conclusions on the parts book, to later be proven incorrect? I'm so confused.

Thanks.

[Gary C.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

Rod, previously posted the blueprint to show the drawing of what a '57-8 oil pan should look like along with an original oil pan photo. The blueprint no. I believe is a Flint part no., as it came from a GM retiree. Sorry, if the blueprint part no. caused any confusion. Noland Adams C1 book has the following good photos; 57 oil pan on page 126, 58 oil pan on page 222 & 223. The photo Steven posted in the very first post is a passenger car oil pan photo. Gary....

[Loren L.]

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....

I'm not sure of the source of Mr. Chestnut's description and picture, but we may need to refer to it again. His illustration attaches part # 3735642 to his version.

I'd like to quote 3 lines from the March 1, 1957 Parts Book, Group 1.426, page 185:

"57 ALL (8 cyl.)(exc. Ser. 6)..................................3735640
57 CORV.,
57 Ser. 6 (8 cyl.).....w/pin (18 holes, 4 marked B)....3736615"

3735640 and 3735642 are eerily close. Now I've checked a March 1, 1958 parts book and it is still 3735640, so I guess it's time to determine the source of 3735642 and see if it is a "typo". If it turns out that it should indeed be 3735640, it might be time to check judging sheets and find out how many people lost points on an interpretation that seems to be 180 degrees out of phase.

I'd like to add that my article initially spelled out the necessity for using Parts Books, inasmuch as engines were delivered with pans so there would be no equivalent to be found in the AIMS. I find it interesting that Mr Chestnut and apparently others did not contact me with an "offer of proof". The article referenced my sources and where '56 information was lacking, acknowledged it.

By the way, it would appear that we can also do away with "smooth".

[Ian G.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

What about '59? for me early 59 (dec 58) is the info I'm after. The pan cost me $300 shipped, so the recession worked in my favor, but it could have definitely been a costlier mistake. Would a 59 pan have a flat second step like in 1960, but without the "trap door" and the numerous spot welds that indicate its presence?

Also, on that 57 pan pic you posted, it is hard to tell since the pic is straight on, but it looks like the sides of the second step are raised, like the passenger pan, but do not have the dimples at the back of the raised portion?

[Gary C.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

2 additional photos of a correct '57-8 oil pan. Gary....

[Roy B.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

Rod, previously posted the blueprint to show the drawing of what a '57-8 oil pan should look like along with an original oil pan photo. The blueprint no. I believe is a Flint part no., as it came from a GM retiree. Sorry, if the blueprint part no. caused any confusion. Noland Adams C1 book has the following good photos; 57 oil pan on page 126, 58 oil pan on page 222 & 223. The photo Steven posted in the very first post is a passenger car oil pan photo. Gary....

Gary ,I posted that blue print on NCRS quite a while ago along with all C1's oil pans , got them from Noland many years ago to help end the confusion, and what your saying a dead ON! Glade to see some people copy my postings to keep. Also 15 years ago I put it in SACE mag. for our members Best ROY

[Ian G.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

Ok, so the correct 57-58 pan doesn't have those raised areas on the side at all. The second step is flat... Would a 59 look like this, but with a lowered area at the drain plug? I've seen some where the drain plug is kind of raised into an indent making it flush with the bottom

[David S.]

Re: Correct 58 oil pan

This is a picture showing the pan from my 57 5 star bowtie car.
Car is 220 horse P/G with only 48,000 miles