The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop reinstall oil pan on 235

As usual I'm making things harder than necessary, but after taking the oil pan off a 1954 235 6 cyl, I can't get it back on. I'm not sure if I'm hitting the oil screen or oil pump, what's the trick to getting the pan back on?

Thanks

There is a trick to it im sure. I just forced it and it worked. Good Luck. Sorry I cant be of any help. Mine was hard to get off, and hard to get on.

Is it hanging up on the ends? New gaskets will make it tight. Also check to see that it's not getting stuck on oil pick-up or anything else as you said. If it doesn't feel like it's stopping dead against something use a little more force and see if it's just the end gaskets.

I'm sure it's getting hung up on the oil pump or oil pickup, worried that if I force it I'll break something.

DW,

Is the engine out of the rig...maybe on an engine stand upside down in a garage? Are you dry fitting it right now...no gaskets!


Stuart

I noticed on the 261 oil pan I have not installed yet that there is a well in the bottom with a metal overhang. I'd be guessing but it would seem that if you were mounting the pan, it would have to be put on from "rear to front wise direction" so the oil pump screen and uptake would clear the metal cover over the well. I've never seen one off a truck(other than this one) so that is just my best guess.

There are a lot more folks here with experiance who can better answer your question but forcing it doesn't seem to me to be a good idea.

Engine is in the truck, and I'm "dry fitting" before I use gaskets and adhesive. I'm putting the front of the pan on first due to an overhang from timing or crankshaft cover on the bottom front of the 235. As Virginiafiretruck described, there is a "well" with baffles on the bottom of pan and I believe one of the edges is contacting the bottom of the oil pump or oil pickup.

DW,

Hope you have a good creeper and a bright trouble light. The pan wasn't pulled to address a oil pump problem was it? Keep wiggling and I'll bet you get it.


Stuart

I have no idea what you're seeing under that truck so I don't know for sure how to solve your problem. So why am I here? Well; in 1967 I pulled the pan off of a 235 59 Biscayne with the motor in the car. The motor had to be lifted for the pan to clear the front cross-member. Even with the motor lifted 4-6" we had to turn the crank to move it out of the way toward the front of the engine in order to get the pan out and back in. You may need to do the same. Good luck.

just an update in case you run into this problem. Looking in the bottom of the oil pan I noticed one side of the baffled metal well wasn't quite straight, maybe 1/8th inch. Pushed it straight and oil pan mated with engine block!

okay, now I've retapped (helicoil) two broken oil pan bolt/holes, next is to try and get the mating surface of the oil pan straight. No wonder the guy I bought the truck from said "it leaks a little!"

DW,

You Helicoiled two holes laying on your back under your truck..you aren't the "New Guy", your "The Man". Take a look at the thread on installing pan gaskets, very informative!


Stuart