Fabricated Aluminum Oil Pan?

[ccracin]

Guys (and Gals),

I have been searching for a fabricated aluminum oil pan for our 502 BB Chevy. I found the Stef's piece, are there any other choices for a wet sump motor? We are going to be mocking the motor into the chassis soon and I would like to settle on a pan. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Blown353]

Stef's does nice work. There is also Hamburgers, Moroso makes nice aluminum pans (but I've only seen custom ones from them) and probably many others.

That being said I have not had much luck getting an aluminum oil pan on an iron block to remain sealed for any reasonable length of time. Tried all sorts of gaskets & sealers and on street cars eventually they all start leaking. I no longer even bother with aluminum pans on street cars since they always result in leak complaints. On a race car that's torn down and the pan resealed a couple times a season they're OK. Just my opinion here.

Now an aluminum pan on an aluminum block is a different story, since the thermal expansion is matched they stay sealed as well as a steel pan does on an iron block.

Another thing you need to be warned about is the vast majority of these fabricated aluminum pans are intended for drag racing use only and do not have proper baffling inside for cornering and braking. A friend runs either a Hamburger or Stef's (I can't recall which) aluminum pan on the 377 SBC in his Chevelle and under moderately hard braking his oil pressure goes to zero, the pan has absolutely no braking baffles of any kind in it, only a windage tray and anti-climb shelf at the rear of the pan. Drag use only! It does look good though. It's also a leaky SOB, started leaking pretty badly after one summer of weekend driving.

[ccracin]

thanks, that information is making me think twice now. Have you ever tried one of the one piece silicone gaskets? I don't know if they have them for Big Blocks. I've used them on small blocks (not with aluminum though) and they are amazing.

Any comments from anyone else? Thanks.

[camcojb]

I've used them, but never on an iron block. No issues at all. I think it would also depend on the flange used. Some have a billet flange which is much thicker and stronger than the typical thin aluminum sheet most use.

Mine have been Cantons.

Jody

[dplenzig]

Here's a picture of my new Dan Olsen pan built for my 406. This pan is awesome quality with billet rails.

www.olsonmotorsports.com 559-292-7267

[ccracin]

Originally Posted by camcojb

I've used them, but never on an iron block. No issues at all. I think it would also depend on the flange used. Some have a billet flange which is much thicker and stronger than the typical thin aluminum sheet most use.

Mine have been Cantons.

Jody

Thanks Jody.

I'll talk to Canton.

Originally Posted by deplenzig

Here's a picture of my new Dan Olsen pan built for my 406. This pan is awesome quality with billet rails.

deplenzig,

Do you have contact information? That looks like a nice piece.

Thanks.