change oil pan in car

[sixpackgut]

i have a 70 challenger, i would like to put a deep sump on my car but dont know if i could get it to go over the pickup while the engine is in the car. i wont jack the motor because i'll have to unbolt the headers and dont even want to deal with that but if it could be done without jacking the motor, i want someone to who has done it to tell me so before i waste my time trying.

[gsmopar]

I did it once in my Charger... once! Major PIB! Then it leaked. Much easier just to pull the engine.

[CUDA 65]

I can remove the deep oil pan on my 65 Cuda with 400B while the engine is in the car however I can't remove the pickup tube it hits the frame

[bbeckwith]

I agree with gsmopar, I changed pans once, and once only. I have a bad shoulder and working on my back is difficult enough without having to struggle through this. The headers are in the way, the motor drips, the gaskets slip while trying to install. All in all, it can be done on a small block a-body, but is aggravation I would rather avoid in the future. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do though.

I found you have little room to work with around the front of the motor and the k-frame, and the stock oil pickup was not an issue, but maybe your new longer one for the deeper pan will be, dont know for sure. Take your time, and you will probably not have too much trouble. If you do, bite the bullet and lift the motor to the point where you do have clearance.

Good Luck,

[jelsr]

Dunno how bad you want to do it, but if you can support the engine safely it's relatively easy to lower the K frame. Pull the little c clips, and slide the torsion bars back enough to clear then the motor mount bolts, steering coupler, 4 K frame mounting bolts and presto, lots of elbow room.

[sixpackgut]

the front bolts on the pan dont look that bad but i was worried about screwing in the pickup. i have hooker super comps on my car and they wrap around every possible steering component. thats why i dont want to unbolt them. they could make a grown man cry.

[1972roadrunner]

take the oil pump off to put the pickup on, and adjust it when the pump is back in the car. if your gonna go through the trouble to take the pan off, whats 2 bolts for the pump (and maybe 4 for a windage tray if you have one)...

my $.02

[sixpackgut]

its a 440. not a small block.

[gsmopar]

Originally posted by sixpackgut
the front bolts on the pan dont look that bad but i was worried about screwing in the pickup. i have hooker super comps on my car and they wrap around every possible steering component. thats why i dont want to unbolt them. they could make a grown man cry.

Especially with hookers... it's not worth the effort. Just pull the engine.

[1972roadrunner]

Originally posted by sixpackgut
its a 440. not a small block.

that'd make quite a difference...

[jleilich]

i just took the oil pan off my 440 cuda last week. all i had to do was unhook the pitman arm and the idler arm to drop down the steering linkages. came right out.

[jleilich]

i did not have to take off the pick up, and i have regular hooker comps. only reason i took mine off was to check for damage to my engine that turned out to be nothing,

see post: Anyone with MP starter

[sixpackgut]

jleilich,i was thinking i would drop the center link. do you think you would have been able to unscrew the pickup? a deep sump pickup? it looks like its possible but i'm just not sure and dont want to waste may time taking it apart just to put it back the same way it was.