LSX oilpan

[helmet10]

there is a nice oilpan on ebay, aluminum canton.

[67LSRS]

Anyone know what these pans do to the "integrity" of the bottom end? I have read where the pan is considered to be an integral part of the bottom end structure of these motors.
The Moroso pan looks nice but on my budget 650 bucks for an oilpan is not an option,that being said the autokraft pan is really nice and the customer service I received was just plain great.
The first pan must have been dropped in shipping and the rail was bent, I called Autokraft and they had a new one there in no time.
I will buy from them again.

[ErikLS2]

I am trying to decide what to do with my oil pan on my 69 Camaro/LS2 as well. I do know that the factory oil pan is considered a stressed part of the block which also concerns me about it's role in the integrity of the bottom end. I'm a Lexus tech and their engines have been built this way, 6 bolt x-bolted mains, cast aluminum oil pan assy, etc. for a long time and my feeling is it's more for NVH (noise vibration and harshness) than strength. But of course, I don't really know for sure. Maybe I'll ask my 'ol man, a retired engineer, what he thinks.

[shanekennedy]

what are you guys doing for a dipstick in autokraft pan?

[ss dave]

I used a 6.5 qt Canton racing pan for my 69 camaro wet LS7. Available, and with remote filter set up. However with my stock front clip we had to notch the cross member. Fits well and I like the volume for the wet sump.

[TT402LS1]

I used a 6.5 qt Canton racing pan for my 69 camaro wet LS7. Available, and with remote filter set up. However with my stock front clip we had to notch the cross member. Fits well and I like the volume for the wet sump.

Sounds like the same oil pan I had Canton make for me two years ago, Got a pic?

Ron

[ss dave]

Ron, it is a Canton pan pn # 13-274A you can find a good pic on their site. It is made to fit a 70's A-body LSx swap, that's why we had to notch the cross member. Because this is a wet sump LS7 I needed the volume. I figured with the pan at 6 1/2 qts. the lines, filter, thermostat, and cooler it should be 7+qts. That made me sleep better.

[TT402LS1]

That was the FIRST pan that I designed and had them make for me, which didnt hold 6.5 qts. (you should check it to make sure it holds 6.5 Qts.) I wanted a pan that held at least 6 Qts., so I would have a 7 Qt. system. So I had them make the pan that I have now which is the same except its 6 1/2" deep and 12" wide. It holds 6.5 Qts. Also I changed the front of the sump. The front outter corners were cut to to clear the frame better. (thats probally why you still needed to notch your frame.)

I cant believe they are making the pan I designed, and selling it as a swap pan. I know it wont fit a A-body. The sump is too wide, and the front corners need to be at a 45* angle.

How much did the pan cost you?

Thanks for the info! Ron

[ss dave]

We needed to notch the frame because the lower part of the front slope of the pan would ride the cross member, the pan is describe on their site as a 6.5 qt capacity pan, so I just assumed it is such. But you're probably right and I should check to be sure. Looking at it, it appears large enough. Ron, if I had known prior that you were the designer I would have mentioned your name- maybe it would have saved me some pennies.

[TT402LS1]

No, Im just a customer. Id paid $700.00 for them to make this pan. When I sent in the first design, I told them I need a pan that would hold at least 6 qts. And if the dementions wasnt big enough, give me a call. They didnt call me, and they made the pan. (the same one you have) When I got it I checked the pan to make sure it would hold 6 Qts. Well, it didnt. It only held 5 qts. I installed the pan to see how it fit. And the front of the sump was pretty close to the frame.

I called Canton and told them it didnt hold 6 qts. With alot of bitching, they decided they would make me a new one. I sent in another design, this time a little deeper (sump), and the front corners of the sump cut to a 45* angle. This pan held 6.5 qts. and fit better than the first.

I not saying you have the same pan, but it sure looks like my first design. And if it is, it might only hold 5 qts. They tried to tell me that with the oil filter it would be 6 qts., but I wanted 6 qts. in THE PAN. So they might be counting the oil filter with the pan to = 6.5 qts.

Ron

[ss dave]

Ron, thanks for the heads up. I need/want AT LEAST 6 qts. in the pan.

[ss dave]

Ok update on the pan. Ron gave me the heads-up on the Canton
LSx swap pan. With the time and $ spent on this swap I am absolutely, positively, without a doubt going to upgrade the pan. Got a welder extraordinaire, with alot of experience. He will modify the pan to accommodate 7 qts "in the pan". Got flare room on either side. He also knows some other "trick stuff" to improve the pan. Nothing in my swap has been cookie cutter, off the shelf.
Dang

[TT402LS1]

Did you call Canton? What did they say?? How much did it hold?

Ron

[ss dave]

Called and spoke with the first person to answer the phone. She stated that the pan would hold 6.5 qts WITH the filter and lines etc. She was not specific about JUST the pan. When we are done with the mock-up and pull the motor I'll fill the pan to be SPECIFIC for just the pan. Unfortunately I couldn't get her to commit to a pan volume.

[chicane67]

I am not surprised that was said... the LS series doesnt require that volume to begin with. This isnt the 'old' small block from yesteryear. The total volume of 6.5qts to include the lines and filter is more than enough.

Wegner studied this for months in the developement of the RO7 and found that a wet sump LS only needs 4qts of pan volume with plenty of saftey room to spare.

[Goatman]

Some of the Nissans only use 3 quarts and you can beat on them all day long....


No reason to use more than stock, as long as the baffles are where they need to be...

[ss dave]

Thanks Tyler, I'll check in to it. If I can get away with 6.5 qt as the minimum- then the less is best. Less volume equates to less friction, weight, etc. all good.

[parsonsj]

Wegner also told me that the pan integrity idea is a non-issue for the bottom end. The only reason for the stiff casting from GM is to improve the sealing surface (so it doesn't leak oil).

jp

[ss dave]

Before we go further, indulge my ignorance- who/what is Wegner?

[ss dave]

Thanks John for the PM. Wegner is a R&D for GM.