Cut the crossmember but get ready to work - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Tarendor · 06-13-2020, 03:19 PM

I decided to re-do my turbo oil drain and that involves removing the oil pan. Knowing that I borrowed my lift to a buddy and he is still using it made the decision to cut the crossmember a simple one.

No big deal, grabbed the sawzall and wack wack.

Then I built/modified the new brace.

Slapped it in,

I then pulled it back out and proceeded to drop the oil pan...well I got the bolts out but it wouldn't come out.

Turns out the oil pick up tube hangs down so low that the pan couldn't clear it with my power steering rack in the way.

I had a great idea!!! Drop the tranny brace and tilt the motor up by lowering the transmission...so as it turns out my solid motor mounts didn't like that idea and didn't let the motor tilt.

Ok, next idea was to unbolt the power steering rack and move it out of the way.

My big hands and lack of reasonable room made that suck real bad.

However once I unbolted the rack and pushed/lifted it out of the way the pan dropped right out.

So word to the wise, if your going to cut your crossmember to drop your oil pan AND have a power steering rack, make sure to include taking out those 4 bolts in your plan lol.

InFiD3ViL · 06-13-2020, 04:09 PM

Damn man, nice work! I like how you double tabbed it for strength on the top as well. Those few hours you took to fab this up will likely save you tons of time and headache in the future. I wish I had the skills and equipment to fab stuff up like that.

Tarendor · 06-13-2020, 04:27 PM

yeah, it took a little bit because the plates are 1/4" stainless steel.

christianchevell · 06-13-2020, 04:28 PM

Yup guys did this years ago with a different set up for the crossmember flange and Bo did it also....

Tarendor · 06-13-2020, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christianchevell

Yup guys did this years ago with a different set up for the crossmember flange and Bo did it also....

Yeah, thats where I got the idea, but none of those old posts mentioned the issues that can arise with different years, thats why I went ahead an posted my experience.

I was like WTF!?!?! When it didn't come right out like they said it did for them lol

InFiD3ViL · 06-13-2020, 05:52 PM

This would help tremendously when doing an oil pump swap also. That was the biggest PITA of my cam swap so I wound up tying fishing line to the pickup tube bolt, this way if I dropped it (I did) I could just pull it right back out of the pan.

Tarendor · 06-13-2020, 07:16 PM

Absolutly, the brace mod was super easy in reality. Also if you did the plates in mild steel instead of stainless it would be easier to bend and drill too lol

olblue75 · 06-13-2020, 09:29 PM

Shit you ought to make a few sets of mild steel to sell just the tab parts. I’d buy a set.

Tarendor · 06-14-2020, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olblue75

Shit you ought to make a few sets of mild steel to sell just the tab parts. I’d buy a set.

That wasn't the purpose of this post but feel free to PM me.

joshnmn · 06-14-2020, 09:40 PM

That’s awesome. I was literally laying under my car yesterday trying to figure out turbo oil drainage and had the exact same idea about the cross member. Good job

Tarendor · 06-15-2020, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnmn

That’s awesome. I was literally laying under my car yesterday trying to figure out turbo oil drainage and had the exact same idea about the cross member. Good job

The whole reason I did the crossmember cut was so I could then do this lol

You can also see where I shaved the standoffs off

joshnmn · 06-15-2020, 01:15 PM

Nice!

Tarendor · 06-16-2020, 06:10 AM

Let me know if you want to buy an oil pan just like it.

gunchamp · 06-17-2020, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InFiD3ViL

This would help tremendously when doing an oil pump swap also. That was the biggest PITA of my cam swap so I wound up tying fishing line to the pickup tube bolt, this way if I dropped it (I did) I could just pull it right back out of the pan.

I shoved rags down in my oil pan so the bolt couldnt fall in. That worked as well. And to the op, nice job on the brackets.

06-13-2020, 03:19 PM	#1
Tarendor Drives: 2012 camaro 2ss rs L99 Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: North Sioux city SD Posts: 446 View My Garage	Cut the crossmember but get ready to work I decided to re-do my turbo oil drain and that involves removing the oil pan. Knowing that I borrowed my lift to a buddy and he is still using it made the decision to cut the crossmember a simple one. No big deal, grabbed the sawzall and wack wack. Then I built/modified the new brace. Slapped it in, I then pulled it back out and proceeded to drop the oil pan...well I got the bolts out but it wouldn't come out. Turns out the oil pick up tube hangs down so low that the pan couldn't clear it with my power steering rack in the way. I had a great idea!!! Drop the tranny brace and tilt the motor up by lowering the transmission...so as it turns out my solid motor mounts didn't like that idea and didn't let the motor tilt. Ok, next idea was to unbolt the power steering rack and move it out of the way. My big hands and lack of reasonable room made that suck real bad. However once I unbolted the rack and pushed/lifted it out of the way the pan dropped right out. So word to the wise, if your going to cut your crossmember to drop your oil pan AND have a power steering rack, make sure to include taking out those 4 bolts in your plan lol. __________________ 2012 2SS/RS, L99, no cats/mufflers, Ported intake manifold, fuel rail upgrade, ID1050x injectors, Vmax throttle body, 25% UDP, GPI DOD delete, GPI SS3, GPI cnc heads, GPI – 5/16″ Hardened Pushrods, BTR trunion upgrade, BTR .660 springs, pcv revamp w/dual catch cans, Circle D 3800, full BMR suspension & bushings. ZL1 fuel pump, HPT programmed fpcm. JMS bap, Snow VC-50 methanol setup. custom 4gal methonal tank, vs7875 turbo, FMIC, precision 46mm WG, 50mm BOV, 3bar map, SJM line lock, Innovate SCG-1, Hurst shifter with tap shift mod, ×2 Holley 14" fans Diy E85, Diy auxiliary pump

06-13-2020, 04:09 PM	#2
InFiD3ViL Drives: 2010 CGM 2SS/RS LS3 Swapped A6 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Spring Hill, FL Posts: 4,576	Damn man, nice work! I like how you double tabbed it for strength on the top as well. Those few hours you took to fab this up will likely save you tons of time and headache in the future. I wish I had the skills and equipment to fab stuff up like that. __________________ 2010 CGM Camaro 2SS LS3 Swapped A6 - GPI LS3 SS1 .647/.638, (224/237, 112 +4, 7º overlap) on CamMotion 8620 core, BTR Platinum .660" Dual Spring kit w/titanium retainers, CHE bronze trunnion upgrade, stock heads milled @ .015, Melling HV 10296 oil pump, TSP 1-7/8" long tube headers (W/Catless Off-road Pipes), Corsa Xtreme 3" Catback, GPI Ported/Rod Mod Intake, Stage 2 Ported Throttle Body, Vararam OTR CAI, Mike Norris Gen 2 catch can + GM 1LE clean side separator, 160º thermostat - Megan Racing adjustable coilovers (lowered 1.75"), MRR M017 10/11" wheels-Tuned by Ryan @ GPI

06-13-2020, 04:27 PM	#3
Tarendor Drives: 2012 camaro 2ss rs L99 Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: North Sioux city SD Posts: 446 View My Garage	yeah, it took a little bit because the plates are 1/4" stainless steel. __________________ 2012 2SS/RS, L99, no cats/mufflers, Ported intake manifold, fuel rail upgrade, ID1050x injectors, Vmax throttle body, 25% UDP, GPI DOD delete, GPI SS3, GPI cnc heads, GPI – 5/16″ Hardened Pushrods, BTR trunion upgrade, BTR .660 springs, pcv revamp w/dual catch cans, Circle D 3800, full BMR suspension & bushings. ZL1 fuel pump, HPT programmed fpcm. JMS bap, Snow VC-50 methanol setup. custom 4gal methonal tank, vs7875 turbo, FMIC, precision 46mm WG, 50mm BOV, 3bar map, SJM line lock, Innovate SCG-1, Hurst shifter with tap shift mod, ×2 Holley 14" fans Diy E85, Diy auxiliary pump

06-13-2020, 04:28 PM	#4
christianchevell old school chevy rodder Drives: 2013 2SS/RS Manual,DM exhaust,CRT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,587 View My Garage	Yup guys did this years ago with a different set up for the crossmember flange and Bo did it also.... __________________ 2021 Wild Cherry ZL1 A10, Sunroof, Data, Carbon, Nav, RotoFab Dry CAI, Elite x2, Borla ATK, Driveshaft shop

06-13-2020, 05:52 PM	#6
InFiD3ViL Drives: 2010 CGM 2SS/RS LS3 Swapped A6 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Spring Hill, FL Posts: 4,576	This would help tremendously when doing an oil pump swap also. That was the biggest PITA of my cam swap so I wound up tying fishing line to the pickup tube bolt, this way if I dropped it (I did) I could just pull it right back out of the pan. __________________ 2010 CGM Camaro 2SS LS3 Swapped A6 - GPI LS3 SS1 .647/.638, (224/237, 112 +4, 7º overlap) on CamMotion 8620 core, BTR Platinum .660" Dual Spring kit w/titanium retainers, CHE bronze trunnion upgrade, stock heads milled @ .015, Melling HV 10296 oil pump, TSP 1-7/8" long tube headers (W/Catless Off-road Pipes), Corsa Xtreme 3" Catback, GPI Ported/Rod Mod Intake, Stage 2 Ported Throttle Body, Vararam OTR CAI, Mike Norris Gen 2 catch can + GM 1LE clean side separator, 160º thermostat - Megan Racing adjustable coilovers (lowered 1.75"), MRR M017 10/11" wheels-Tuned by Ryan @ GPI

06-13-2020, 07:16 PM	#7
Tarendor Drives: 2012 camaro 2ss rs L99 Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: North Sioux city SD Posts: 446 View My Garage	Absolutly, the brace mod was super easy in reality. Also if you did the plates in mild steel instead of stainless it would be easier to bend and drill too lol __________________ 2012 2SS/RS, L99, no cats/mufflers, Ported intake manifold, fuel rail upgrade, ID1050x injectors, Vmax throttle body, 25% UDP, GPI DOD delete, GPI SS3, GPI cnc heads, GPI – 5/16″ Hardened Pushrods, BTR trunion upgrade, BTR .660 springs, pcv revamp w/dual catch cans, Circle D 3800, full BMR suspension & bushings. ZL1 fuel pump, HPT programmed fpcm. JMS bap, Snow VC-50 methanol setup. custom 4gal methonal tank, vs7875 turbo, FMIC, precision 46mm WG, 50mm BOV, 3bar map, SJM line lock, Innovate SCG-1, Hurst shifter with tap shift mod, ×2 Holley 14" fans Diy E85, Diy auxiliary pump

06-13-2020, 09:29 PM	#8
olblue75 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Clarksville Tennesse. Posts: 6,064	Shit you ought to make a few sets of mild steel to sell just the tab parts. I’d buy a set. __________________ Orange Krush II 1LE Front sway bar, Splitter, shocks and struts, Z28 dual mode mufflers, Intake, UCA Bushings, and Toresen 3.91 Diff. 1 piece DSS Drive Shaft, ZL1/C7 Calipers, and 32mm JPSS Rear Bar. ASC race spec splitter and wicker. 6th Gen M017 Wheels. Stainless Works 1 7/8 LTs. DSE and PAFDT Suspension components.

06-14-2020, 09:40 PM	#10
joshnmn 2&THEHIT Drives: 5th Gen Camaro; 5th Gen Ram 3500 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Garner, NC Posts: 1,013 View My Garage	That’s awesome. I was literally laying under my car yesterday trying to figure out turbo oil drainage and had the exact same idea about the cross member. Good job

06-15-2020, 01:15 PM	#12
joshnmn 2&THEHIT Drives: 5th Gen Camaro; 5th Gen Ram 3500 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Garner, NC Posts: 1,013 View My Garage	Nice!

06-16-2020, 06:10 AM	#13
Tarendor Drives: 2012 camaro 2ss rs L99 Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: North Sioux city SD Posts: 446 View My Garage	Let me know if you want to buy an oil pan just like it. __________________ 2012 2SS/RS, L99, no cats/mufflers, Ported intake manifold, fuel rail upgrade, ID1050x injectors, Vmax throttle body, 25% UDP, GPI DOD delete, GPI SS3, GPI cnc heads, GPI – 5/16″ Hardened Pushrods, BTR trunion upgrade, BTR .660 springs, pcv revamp w/dual catch cans, Circle D 3800, full BMR suspension & bushings. ZL1 fuel pump, HPT programmed fpcm. JMS bap, Snow VC-50 methanol setup. custom 4gal methonal tank, vs7875 turbo, FMIC, precision 46mm WG, 50mm BOV, 3bar map, SJM line lock, Innovate SCG-1, Hurst shifter with tap shift mod, ×2 Holley 14" fans Diy E85, Diy auxiliary pump