Hi Everyone, I'm attempting to put a 3.8 GM v6 into my daughter's 64 Chevy II Nova. The problem I'm having is the oil pan hits the steering linkage. Has any of you modified the oil pan on a case like this or is there another oil pan in existance that would work? thanks for replies Jim
I would think that there are front sump pans out there for some application, as this engine was used alot. Can't recall what I had in my 78 Skyhawk, if it was a rear sump or not. Another possibility is to notch the front portion of the deep area of the rear sump pan. It all depends on the pickup tube location in the sump.
Are you using the new style 3.8 that they would call the 3800 or is this and early engine? If it is an early engine an oil pan was not made for that engine. If you are using the later 3800 engine then the Holden used a fron sump oil pan. I do not think they will interchange.
the engine is from a 1980 Malibu... rear sump, I know you can buy a front sump oil pan for a small block v8 but not sure about the v6. I was looking at it again and I can move the engine/tranny forward so the motor mounts line up and then I would have to notch the rear of the oil pan. I'm hesitant as I've never done that before but it can be done. If I do notch the oil pan I'll have to add capacity again of about a quart to the front in order to keep the 4 quart capacity.....that's a lot of work. My other option is a v8 and buy the reverse oil pan,......a lot less work as the Chevy II did come with v8's in them. I dunno ....we are open to suggestions but we are also on a limited budget so a front clip is out of the question.
again, is it a Chevy engine (distributor in the rear) or a Buick engine (distributor up front)? Obviously it's easier to make a Buick engine use a front sump, since the oil pump is up front (and external).
hey, what do ya think about this; shorten a nova v-8 pan and pickup tube? i DON'T know if it can be done, just a thought. p.s., this ONLY apllies if it's a chevy v-6.... or you can do what i'm doing with my rambler, use a nova MII crossmember BUT if i had a nova, i'd use the frt clip style... btw, bought mine thru Zigs. real nice guys,went and did a BUNCH of measuring for me.... hey, just thought of another issue, will the front sump sit DIRECTLY on the crossmember/steering linkage?
Its a chevy with Dist in the rear. As it is now the sump will hit the linkage, if it were a forward sump it would miss the linkage. Tomslik...that's not a bad idea, shortening a Nova pan for a v8 because this motor is basically a v8 with 2 cylinders chopped off.
I would think the slice job would work for a v8 pan. guess u have 3/4 of a 305 v8, which works out to 229 cid. Was wondering if anyone had sliced a rear sump Buick V6 pan lengthwise just below the u-shaped front and rear bearing notches, then reversed and welded back together. I think that would work well, except for maybe baffling inside. I would think the pickup tube would be shortened to fit at the new front sump. Guess I could try it on my dauntless v6's.
do the chevy 60 & 90 degree blocks share oil pans? i bought a 63' nova 30 years ago with a 327/350 in it and the guy had welded in a tube so the steering linkage could pass through the oil pan. the guy i sold it to was putting in a narrowed 71' nova clip and it looked like it was going to work fine. don't know if it ever hit the road.
I used an S10 Blazer 4x4 pan on my 4.3L V6. I had a friend weld a half- round notch into it, so the crosslink would clear.
yeah, it was easy to cut and weld it, but it took a little work to get it to stop leaking! The notched 4x4 pan trick for the V6 in the Nova is a good idea....
Did that when I put my Olds 371 in my 62 Nova. Didn't need it after putting in the Econoline straight axle.
I would think you could take a V 8 Moroso deep sump, notched pan and shorten it up near the middle or front. Anybody got a V6 block laying around to compare the pan bolt spacing to a V8 block?
Thing is I have to move the engine forward to make the engine mounts line up. This means I need to notch the rear of the sump and that is where the oil pump is. I dunno....might have to look for a buick engine which has the forward sump. Or a 302.
BTW, You don't want to go with a front sump. You would need a Chevy II oil pump and pickup tube. Then you'd have to shorten it and hang it off the block somehow.
I wouldn't move the engine and trans. Then you will run into all kinds of other problems. I'd move the mounts back.
You're right Markyac, I'm finding this is getting real complicated.....I'm starting to look at the original 194 six again.....I might just rering it and do the valves and put it back in. Maybe replace the powerglide with a 200r4.
Its too bad its illegal to change the steering linkage. If could I would cut the linkage and go down underneath the pan and back up but it might screw up the steering.
What do you mean by illegal? You're telling me that you cannot use a dropped centerlink for your linkage? That is a very good option in my opinion, or even think about a rack type steering setup, possibly forward of the sump.
Well a front end guy told me it was illegal....I thought it was a good idea but what the hell do I know....
A wise man told me years ago to use a Corvair front end in place of my 62 Nova suspension. I blew him off and installed an Econoline straight axle. Well he was right, 4 bolts and you have a nice (lower spring) suspension mounted to the subframe. This might even work, a 68 up Nova front suspension and subframe, even a Camaro too. I agree with putting the engine and trans where it wants to be, in fact I usually locate by the rear of the transmission and go from there. So in your case, a 2004r should be about the same length as the PG. Modify the trans mount using the old crossmember modified with welded extension plate and go from there with the steering and front mounts. I believe you won't regret it.
I am also dealing with something like this and trying to eliminate road rash to oil pan. Would chopping the oil pan 2" effect oil pressure? Obviously my dipstick will no longer be accurate I have a shorter pan but on closer inspection there are numerous other obstacles that will have to be addressed to install shorter pan.
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