Oil Pan removal - looking for suggestions - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Synner · 06-11-2014, 05:37 PM

Aside from cutting out the crossmember is there a way to drop the oil pain without pulling the engine?

Would loosening the cradle bolts while partially raising the engine after loosening the motor mounts provide enough room? There's gotta be some shops out there that found a faster way to do this.

I'm doing this for the install of an oil pan baffle. Don't want to cut up the frame due to lateral loads the car sees but need to address oil starvation in high g turns. If I have to pull the engine then I'm going to say screw it and do a dry sump but I don't want to spend that kind of scratch right now.

2sscamaro11 · 06-11-2014, 05:46 PM

Can you run an oil accumulator? That might be easier.

Synner · 06-11-2014, 05:50 PM

Too many accusump horror stories and relying on mechanical and electrical components that can fail or be set wrong for my taste. I will try the baffle if I can find a way to not pull the motor for the install of the stinkin thing otherwise I will wait until I save enough pennies for a dry sump.

axis · 06-11-2014, 06:34 PM

I haven't heard of any other way, other than cutting the cross member.

ttshovel · 06-12-2014, 12:16 AM

Look at the instructions for the map turbo kit. They have a step by step to remove the pan with the motor in the car

Hannibal · 06-12-2014, 07:53 AM

My understanding is that given the lack of clearance, you have to drop the front cradle in order to get the pan off. This is how the dealers handle the pan gasket leaks that many of the V8 engines seem to develop.

Needless to say, this is quite a large job.

CFD · 06-12-2014, 08:09 AM

The cross member can be cut and then by welding flanges in place it can be made a bolt in piece. There is a small write up and pictures in my build thread. I thought it was the best option.

Synner · 06-12-2014, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttshovel

Look at the instructions for the map turbo kit. They have a step by step to remove the pan with the motor in the car

You sir are my hero. Now would you believe GM wants $1200 for that engine support? Looks like I will be welding one up like they did in their how to.

BplumCrazy-SS · 06-15-2014, 12:23 AM

CFD do you have any pics of the plate you welded on the frame to bolt the crossmember to

CFD · 06-15-2014, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BplumCrazy-SS

CFD do you have any pics of the plate you welded on the frame to bolt the crossmember to

I made 4 flanges, 2 for the cross member and 2 for the frame. There are a few pictures of the process in my build thread starting on pg6 but here are the flanges and cross member so you can see where I made the cut.

Scourage · 06-16-2014, 01:29 AM

If you have a hoist to support the engine, you can drop the cradle. I ended up building my own support since I don't have a hoist. If I ever have to reseal the oil pan again, I'm cutting because that would save a lot of time. What CFD has there looks awesome.

BplumCrazy-SS · 06-16-2014, 03:12 PM

CFD could you make another set of flanges like that?

GONIF · 06-16-2014, 03:56 PM

In the old days we used to put a bar across the top of the shock towers and undo the motor ,mounts ,exhaust and some hoses ,jack up the motor and strap or chain the motor to the bar and there it will stay until you unchain it . Used to do that to Cadillac's with North stars to replace the seal between the upper and lower block.

CFD · 06-16-2014, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BplumCrazy-SS

CFD could you make another set of flanges like that?

I can. I wrote a program and did them on the CNC. I also made a fixture so I could do small quantities as I thought it made a lot of sense.

06-11-2014, 05:37 PM	#1
Synner Drives: cars Join Date: May 2011 Location: Oversneeze Posts: 4,544	Oil Pan removal - looking for suggestions Aside from cutting out the crossmember is there a way to drop the oil pain without pulling the engine? Would loosening the cradle bolts while partially raising the engine after loosening the motor mounts provide enough room? There's gotta be some shops out there that found a faster way to do this. I'm doing this for the install of an oil pan baffle. Don't want to cut up the frame due to lateral loads the car sees but need to address oil starvation in high g turns. If I have to pull the engine then I'm going to say screw it and do a dry sump but I don't want to spend that kind of scratch right now.

06-11-2014, 06:34 PM	#4
axis Search Ninja Drives: 2010 Black 2SS/RS A6 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Ark Posts: 7,183	I haven't heard of any other way, other than cutting the cross member. __________________ 2010 Black 2SS/RS A6 Halltech CF 102 fed GPI modded intake manifold Bo (knows) White ported TB Kooks LT's/ Dynomax VT Pfadted (springs/sways) Dyno tuned by Rhino and GPI I once parallel parked a train.

06-15-2014, 12:23 AM	#9
BplumCrazy-SS Drives: 416 w/TH400 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Houston Posts: 697	CFD do you have any pics of the plate you welded on the frame to bolt the crossmember to __________________ ERL 416 - 12.5 cr, TH400, Custom VVT Cam, PRC 255 heads, NW 102 TB, Aeromotive stealth fuel system, Fast 102 plumbed with a nitrous express direct port kit, BMR 15" conversion kit

06-16-2014, 03:12 PM	#12
BplumCrazy-SS Drives: 416 w/TH400 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Houston Posts: 697	CFD could you make another set of flanges like that? __________________ ERL 416 - 12.5 cr, TH400, Custom VVT Cam, PRC 255 heads, NW 102 TB, Aeromotive stealth fuel system, Fast 102 plumbed with a nitrous express direct port kit, BMR 15" conversion kit

06-16-2014, 03:56 PM	#13
GONIF Drives: 73 VETTE ,, 05 2500hd diesel,14 1LE Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: The Left lane PHOENIX AZ Posts: 2,626	In the old days we used to put a bar across the top of the shock towers and undo the motor ,mounts ,exhaust and some hoses ,jack up the motor and strap or chain the motor to the bar and there it will stay until you unchain it . Used to do that to Cadillac's with North stars to replace the seal between the upper and lower block. __________________ OLD GUY FLYING FAST AND LOW

06-11-2014, 05:46 PM	#2
2sscamaro11 Drives: 2011 ss camaro Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: hamburg pa Posts: 261	Can you run an oil accumulator? That might be easier.

06-11-2014, 05:50 PM	#3
Synner Drives: cars Join Date: May 2011 Location: Oversneeze Posts: 4,544	Too many accusump horror stories and relying on mechanical and electrical components that can fail or be set wrong for my taste. I will try the baffle if I can find a way to not pull the motor for the install of the stinkin thing otherwise I will wait until I save enough pennies for a dry sump.

06-12-2014, 12:16 AM	#5
ttshovel Drives: 12 camaro ss, 72 chevelle, 91camaro Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: findlay,oh Posts: 2,069	Look at the instructions for the map turbo kit. They have a step by step to remove the pan with the motor in the car

06-12-2014, 07:53 AM	#6
Hannibal Drives: Camaro SS & ZL1 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Southeast USA Posts: 527	My understanding is that given the lack of clearance, you have to drop the front cradle in order to get the pan off. This is how the dealers handle the pan gasket leaks that many of the V8 engines seem to develop. Needless to say, this is quite a large job.

06-12-2014, 08:09 AM	#7
CFD Drives: 2SS/RS L99 BLACK Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Franklin , MA Posts: 6,696	The cross member can be cut and then by welding flanges in place it can be made a bolt in piece. There is a small write up and pictures in my build thread. I thought it was the best option.

06-16-2014, 01:29 AM	#11
Scourage Syntax Error Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SE Nebraska Posts: 557 View My Garage	If you have a hoist to support the engine, you can drop the cradle. I ended up building my own support since I don't have a hoist. If I ever have to reseal the oil pan again, I'm cutting because that would save a lot of time. What CFD has there looks awesome.