The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 engine noise, help needed!

Good find. That pan must be dented/pressed in pretty good. Can you post a pic of it? I'm curious to see how dented it is.
A new gasket won't push it down enough to clear those rod bolts based on how deep that scratch is.

While you've got the pan off, drop and cleanout the screen in the oil pickup tube.
If you really feel motivated you could plasti-gauge the main and rod bearings to get a good idea on how wore they are.
If not try and move the rods side to side, there should be very little side play.
Give everything a good look over and cleanout all the gunk/sludge you can get to.

Good luck
Dave