Oil pan madness

Author Topic: Oil pan madness  (Read 1530 times)

Offline LukeSkywalker

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Oil pan madness
« on: January 17, 2013 - 06:57:07 PM »
I've loosened the oil pan, and removed the steering rod underneath it...

The pickup is hooked underneath the plate inside the oil pan, so I tried pushing the oil pan backwards towards the gearbox, not enough room... Removed the driveplate cover, still not enough room..  Can't unhinge the oil pan from the pickup... I get the pan down about two inches from the engineblock and it stops there. I put my hand in and felt around and I'm missing an inch of space to get the oil pan plate off the round pickup plate.

I'll have to remove the gearbox from the engine in order to unhinge the oil pan from the pickup...

Is there a suicide hotline I can call about this?

Please tell me there's a different, easier way to do this... Is there any way I can get the pickup loose? Can that be pulled down somehow?

I'm assuming that there is a mismatch between the oil pan and the pickup type/shape...?
« Last Edit: January 17, 2013 - 07:10:07 PM by LukeSkywalker »




Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Oil pan madness
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2013 - 05:53:00 AM »
I have generally never had an issue , twisting the pan or rotating it shoul dget it by the pick up

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline LukeSkywalker

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Re: Oil pan madness
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2013 - 06:13:15 AM »
I see. Has to be some sort of mismatch then, either the pan or the pickup. The oil pan has 933 written on it in large letters.

Can I remove and replace the pickup from underneath the engine once the oil pan is off?


Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Oil pan madness
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2013 - 06:15:53 AM »
yup

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline mopar jack

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Re: Oil pan madness
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2013 - 11:15:38 AM »
You might have the windage tray stuck to the pan and it can make it harder to remove.

Offline MTS-Challenger

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Re: Oil pan madness
« Reply #5 on: January 18, 2013 - 01:51:43 PM »
You can gain an extra two or three inches of space by disconnecting one or both the motors mounts and jacking the engine up to give the space needed.
 :2thumbs:
« Last Edit: January 18, 2013 - 04:34:11 PM by mttchall »
1970 Challenger R/T 440

Offline LukeSkywalker

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Re: Oil pan madness
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2013 - 02:33:38 PM »
It's not the trays fault as that is still in place. It's the plate welded on inside the pan that is the problem.
I can see I'm going to have to destroy that oil pan, cut it and bend it. I have a new pan with a different look anyway.
If the pickup fits the new pan, the pickup stays, if not the pickup needs replacing.
As far as I can tell the pickup kinda looks like the one thats supposed to go with the 402 pan.

Also I have bought two dipsticks from two different stores that are supposed to fit the 440, but they don't. Hole in the engine block is too small.

And I need to buy a new original exhaust manifold. I have Hooker super competition headers now. Not exactly built for your convenience. Try getting the starter out... It's like its behind bars... Unbelievable. Eveything on this car has been problematic or just wrong. Everything. Except for the look.

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Oil pan madness
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2013 - 09:35:32 PM »
Not sure how to help with the oil pan .
 Aftermarket dipsticks never fit , you have to grind the chrome off & maybe a bit more to get them to fit , I use an old screwdriver in the top & tap on that & some silicone to seal the tube in the block .

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Offline MTS-Challenger

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Re: Oil pan madness
« Reply #8 on: January 18, 2013 - 11:25:21 PM »
I've installed several dipstick tubes in my days. Tapping at the top bends them useless.
 
The trick is to use a tool to grip at the bottom of the dip stick tube above the block seating lip (gripped loosly) and tap on the gripping tool there.

I use vise grips locked loosely in place (some tape on the vise grip jaws helps not mar the chrome in my case) around the bottom above the block seating lip. Have an assistant hold the vise grips in place from underneath the car and from above the engine using a long peice of rod bar stock or wood resting on the vise grips, then slowly tap on the bar stock to drive the dip stick tube (via vise grips) into place. It’s a press fit so keep on tapping until well seated.

Again the job is more easier if you remove the motor mount or at least take out the main motor mount bolt and jack the engine up a little.

The method is similar as when removing or installing the torsion bars using Mopars special install tool.
 :2thumbs:

To pull the starter - you'll need to pull the header out of the way. Remove the header flange bolt to the exhaust pipe, remove the header bolts to the head, muscle the header down and shifted forward. Again it helps if you first lift the engine up some by removing (you guessed it) engine mounting bolt.  Now you have access to the starter.

 :working:
1970 Challenger R/T 440

Offline 72cudamaan

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Re: Oil pan madness
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2013 - 11:29:44 PM »
It's not the trays fault as that is still in place. It's the plate welded on inside the pan that is the problem.
I can see I'm going to have to destroy that oil pan, cut it and bend it. I have a new pan with a different look anyway.
If the pickup fits the new pan, the pickup stays, if not the pickup needs replacing.
As far as I can tell the pickup kinda looks like the one thats supposed to go with the 402 pan.

Also I have bought two dipsticks from two different stores that are supposed to fit the 440, but they don't. Hole in the engine block is too small.

And I need to buy a new original exhaust manifold. I have Hooker super competition headers now. Not exactly built for your convenience. Try getting the starter out... It's like its behind bars... Unbelievable. Eveything on this car has been problematic or just wrong. Everything. Except for the look.

First musclecar?  :roflsmiley:  Better get used to it if you really want a old nice car.  It's not just your car. It's the way older cars were built. Actually takes a different mindset to have fun with these things. Keep at it.
If I cant fix it, it's broke
 
Andy  (phukker whither)

Offline Aracer

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Re: Oil pan madness
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2013 - 11:31:34 PM »
Put it up on big stands. Disconnect the exhaust pipe. Loosen the header and lower the starter with it. Put it back together with a modern small starter. (I have a new 440 converter to swap, so I was just thinking about how the new starter went in the 340 along with the sfi flex plate.)