The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Holes in the oil pan

I am finally reassembling my 270 and when I blasted the oil pan, I discovered that the previous owner had drilled a hole approimately 1/32 of an inch in diameter and then used a self tapping screw to fill the hole. Well I took the oil pan to a neighbor to have him weld the hole shut for me. he does not have the greatest eye sight in the world , but he got it welded shut and in the process created another hole about 1/2" from the original . Anyway, if I have to replace the oil pan, what engines are compatible?

I believe that we will be able to weld the new hole shut also but just in case, I thought I should know where to look for a replacement.

Tom

I would go the the local body shop and ask them if the could use their wire welder and fill the hole.

bluebird,

All the oil pans for the GMC 228, 236, 248, 256, 270 and 302's are all interchangable. The only thing that you will have to be careful about is that the oil pump cover matches the the pan. The deeper GMC pans had different pump covers that allowed the scupper float to reach down to the correct depth. And if you already have the deep pan, the oil pump cover that is installed will not allow a shallow pan to fit.

It does sound like a re-weld of the pan you have now will work. If you go this route, I would recommend painting the inside of the pan with Glyptal. Eastwoods has this product and it has worked very well for me. It will keep the pan from rusting on the inside due to condensation. (At least any thin spots won't get any thinner from the inside .)

Hope this helps

I tried to weld a crack in my valvecover last week. I tried a MIG and brazing. The metal kept getting brittle and heat cracking next to the weld. I got tired of chasing cracks and gave up. Make sure that the re-welded pan has no hairline cracks that will seep oil.

chip

Why don't you try solder or braze?

Thanks for the advice. I am almost certain that this hole can be welded correctly and filled. My only concern is its proximity to the oil drain plug. This concern is not great, but it does exist and since it does, I thought I should investigate my options.

I think that I will go to a shop down the street and ask them to fix this for me rather than go to the neighbor again, I just feel bad for my neighbor. I dont want to offend him since he has always been so generous with help.

Anyway, thanks for the advice.

Tom

Sheet metal this thin can be mig welded, but you have to have a rig that will set pretty low on the heat range, most aren't. If you want to get past the cracking issue, get someone to tig weld it.

fixing holes in oil pans is extremely difficult. Usually, a crack reapears after some time. If it were me, I would toss the pan and get a new one. By the by, do you have any idea why the PO drilled a hole in it?

For the life of me I cannot figure out why he would do that?

I have seen some work out in the field where a person may have a small hole and rather than fix it, they drill it out to make it bigger and put a sort of plug in. I have not seen this with engines mind you, but it is not uncommon when you just need to fill a hole easily. Maybe this is what he was doing?

Anyway, I think I will continue to attempt to fix this hole while looking for a new pan.

Bluebird,

I'm with Fred T on this one get it tig welded. I just had a crack on my Fulton visor tig welded. It came out great. no heat warpage. And the crack was right where the side bracket mounts to it too.