NEW Engine Installed, but Oil Pan is ruined....HELP!!!

Odd_Ball_Racing · 05-15-2002, 02:25 AM

Hey Guys, I just got my new engine installed in my '87 Camaro (was a 305 4BBL.) and it sounds great. Just one big problem though, a friend that was helping me and he managed to bust the nut inside the oil pan for the drain plug. First I thought he just stripped the bolt or nut threads, but I confirmed that the nut is busted from inside. I can't even get the plug out.

I ordered a new pan and it will be here tomorrow morning (Wednesday). Here's my question, how hard is it to remove my current pan and replace it with the new stock replacement pan? I would be doing this by myself, in my driveway without a engine hoist or anyother special tool(s). Is this even possible? The long of the short of it is I won't be able to lift the motor, except by the balancer/damper with my small floor jack. I guess I should add I am using Edelbrock TES Headers and Y-pipe and I am using a 14" flexplate (383 stroker motor using a '90 350 block and aftermarket 1 piece rear main crank) instead of the stock diameter flexplate. Any help is welcomed and thanked.

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Cable Bright
-'87 Camaro Z28 (gettin' STROKER Power)
-'91 Caprice 9C1
-'70 El Camino 454 RAT

"....after all, people just want a normal life and a cool car....most people settle for the car."

bestracing · 05-15-2002, 08:44 AM

your hosed, you really need a hoist to replace the pan. I would NOT recomend jacking up the motor with the harmonic balancer. Your putting a lot of stress and pressure on something that was not designed to take. The money you spend renting a hoist will save you from spending more later down the road.

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Wayne Best
Best Racing
67 rs Camaro

355 cu in Chevy
12.5:1 compression
10.90s @ 120 mph

87 Formula 350 w/388cu.in. motor

www.geocities.com/best_racing

91RS5speed · 05-15-2002, 12:54 PM

It's also going to be a pita with the oil still in the pan. I guess you could drill a hole in the pan to get the oil out.

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91 RS Camaro 5-speed black w/t-tops 305 TBI now TPI
MODS: SLP cold air intake w/K&N, air foil,Accel 19 LB injectors, March aluminum under drive pullies, Alburn pro posi, Aluminum drive shaft, Random Technology 3'' cat-back, 8.5mm MSD wires, 180 thermo, jet fan swich, Custom chip with 91 vette computer, SSBC slotted rotors, optima battery in the rear, BMR adjustable lower control arms and panhard rod, Kenny Brown strut tower brace, TB bypass, no egr, no air

Odd_Ball_Racing · 05-15-2002, 01:16 PM

Oh, that's no problem.......its already leaked out!

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Cable Bright
-'87 Camaro Z28 (gettin' STROKER Power)
-'91 Caprice 9C1
-'70 El Camino 454 RAT

"....after all, people just want a normal life and a cool car....most people settle for the car."

Chris91Z · 07-09-2002, 03:46 AM

Can you hack up the new oil pan and cut out a "patch" and cut out your current oil pan (where it is screwed" and have the "patch" welded on? Call me ghetto but this is the way I would do this. if you do this be sure pour some oil in and drain it to remove any possible crap that could get in the pan.

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91 Z28 L98 T56
Cross-DrilledRotors,KYB shock and struts,MSDIgnition,Jet-AFPR,3.73,Hypertech Chip,Borla Adjustable Exhaust
More to come

Odd_Ball_Racing · 07-09-2002, 03:50 AM

Thanks for the suggestion, but I already replaced the whole pan. Thanks again.

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Cable Bright
-'87 Camaro Z28 383
-'91 Caprice 9C1 (getting a new 350 soon!!)
-'70 El Camino 454 RAT

"....after all, people just want a normal life and a cool car....most people settle for the car."

Jim85IROC · 07-09-2002, 09:49 AM

Well I guess if you replaced it already this information won't be of much help, but for others it may be good info.

You can jack the motor from the oil pan (you're tossing it anyway). Get it high enough and use blocks of wood between the block and the frame rails. You'll have to still be able to turn the crank because you'll need to reposition it to get the oil pan out. Once the new oil pan is in, you can probably use a piece of wood between the pan and jack to keep from scratching/denting it.

You're still much better off renting an engine hoist though.

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The IROC Homepage
View the Restoration of an 85 IROC
Weekend projects aren't.

marek85 · 07-09-2002, 12:58 PM

Odd_Ball_Racing hey what did you use for induction. Carb or TPI? I want to build a 383 out of a LT1 and use all the intake parts from the LT1 in my 3 gen.

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Rob
1985 Camaro
305 4bbl
IROC Rims

Odd_Ball_Racing · 07-09-2002, 03:02 PM

Its a Q-jet. Check this post for my complete list.

http://www.camaroz28.com/bb/Forum12/HTML/013804.html

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Cable Bright
-'87 Camaro Z28 383
-'91 Caprice 9C1 (getting a new 350 soon!!)
-'70 El Camino 454 RAT

"....after all, people just want a normal life and a cool car....most people settle for the car."