Here's something else to look out for although it doesn't concern the front seal. I bought a cheapie chrome pan for a t-bucket I built and the 283 started throwing out streams of oil along the sides of the pan after about 800 miles. I took the pan off and the side gaskets were almost cut in two lengthwise. Stock pans have ridges stamped into the rails but have the ridges pointing down so the gaskets swell into the cavities and help hold them in place, the one I bought had the ridges stamped the wrong direction, so...they cut the gaskets in two. Just something to keep in mind.
This thread helped a ton. I bought an OEM style pan for EARLY chevy, as I have a '68 327. I then bought the early(thin front seal) Fel Pro gasket. Drips galore out the front seal. Thanks to Glenn (AHotRod) for answering my PM's lightning quick, and helpful too. Thanks to RACEFAB for actually showing me that the pan I bought was a 2 3/8" front depth! Got the right gasket. No drips. Who would have thought it's take two days to change out an oil pan??? Those gaskets aren't the cheapest, especially when you gotta buy 2 of them, but they work well. Z
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