LS1 with C5 oil pan in 68 Firebird?

[dmac1974]

I am in the early stages of starting/planning my LS1 68 Firebird project. I have purchased a used LS1 motor to rebuild and it has a C5 oil pan. Will this fit with an aftermarket front subframe? Leaning towards the Art Morrison subframe. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

[silver69camaro]

It would probably fit, but headers would be a real pain with the "batwing" style pan.

[CamaroAJ]

It would probably fit, but headers would be a real pain with the "batwing" style pan.

could use a C6 pan then.

[dhutton]

The stock F body pan works well with the AME subframe and they don't cost a whole lot compared to some of the other pans.

[dmac1974]

Thanks for your advice guys. I'm sure I'll have plenty more questions if I ever actually get started on this project.

[Ron.in.SoCal]

The stock F body pan works well with the AME subframe and they don't cost a whole lot compared to some of the other pans.


DH - I have the same subfr and a question for you: even if the pan fits, does it work well under load (i.e. autox, or road race)??

[Ron S]

I ran the batwing pan on my Mustang with GTO headers, cleared everything fine. Going to use it on my Camaro also, I know late model f-body headers clear the pan, beacause that is what I'm using on my 68 Camaro. It does have a custom subframe though,but I think the center portion of most subframes are the same. Ron

[parsonsj]

I ran a C5 pan with my custom Morrison frame. As Matt said, you'll need custom headers. GM changed the pan design later, so I think the batwing design is considered old-school.

[Project Cortez]

You could go with a Heidts subframe.

[zbugger]

If you decide to go with a F-Body pan, Improved Racing sells a bolt in baffle with trap doors to make it a road race style pan. I'm seriously thinking of getting it for my '00 Z28.

[silver69camaro]

DH - I have the same subfr and a question for you: even if the pan fits, does it work well under load (i.e. autox, or road race)??

Haven't had any issues so far over here. And the pan does fit.

[93Polo]

could use a C6 pan then.


The C6 pan has better oil control too. If the C5 pan requires custom headers it maybe easier and cheeper to go with a C6 or F-body pan. The C5 pan does make pulling the headers in and out of a C5 a bit more tricky. Coming from a C5 background plenty of the track day regulars swapped to the C6 pan.

[CamaroAJ]

The C6 pan has better oil control too. If the C5 pan requires custom headers it maybe easier and cheeper to go with a C6 or F-body pan. The C5 pan does make pulling the headers in and out of a C5 a bit more tricky. Coming from a C5 background plenty of the track day regulars swapped to the C6 pan.

alot of the swappers only switched to the new pan because of the better oil control. i almost did too when i had the engine out of my old C5Z.

[93Polo]

alot of the swappers only switched to the new pan because of the better oil control. i almost did too when i had the engine out of my old C5Z.
Agreed, but the ease of pulling the driver side header in and out is a nice side benefilt. I just helped a C5 friend with a clutch swap and had to go in twice due to a problem. I took the chance while he is on his back busting his knuckles feeding the Dynatech headers up to point out the C6 pan would make this much easier ;) I sold my C5 before the swap was common.