Why haven't I seen ever a chromed or aluminium oilpan for a Flathead engine ? Are these ever produced ? I could of course chrome my existing pan, but someone in the past of my engine (it is Belgian, that maybe explains it...) has dropped the engine with pan hard on the floor, so it is dented quite a bit. Anyone ? Erwin
I hear that in Germany there's OEM aluminum pans all over the place. If you're in Belgium, call your neighbors. Nobody has made aftermarket steel pans for chroming. But lots of originals have been chromed over the years. Check Ebay, that's where I bought one. I believe Don Ferguson is making a new aluminum pan, but it might be special for his "Ardun-only" aluminum blocks. Check on Ardun.com, and give him a call. - alchemy
The early 32's And German and French built Flatheads had Aluminum pans There is two models for the German/French One with a Bosch starter that will hit your frame, if you dont have a truck (big). The other one has the Ford type starter. Thr first one can be changed so the Ford type works, includes welding... Mike with the Hamb username Flatordead can get you one if you like, i bought mine from him ;-) But the Ford type will cost you as much as chroming the steelpan..
Thanx as well, Swede ! Have you ever heard of the Wennerberg bros. that made an improved copy of the twinspark Elco heads for flatties ? They were supposed to produce them. By the way: just sold my 1974 Volvo daily driver/daily wrencher to another unlucky Dutchman, hehehehehe !
yea i know the wenneberg Twin brothers, they live 100km north of me. They made some sets of the elco twin heads, that they sold. But they wanted to improve the design, so they have started with new drawings. Then the company making the casting's went belly up. So i think the project is on ice for now. But i know about a unmachinded set that i have my eyes on If i get them i will use them on my German flathead with a Bosch dizzy in the back and a Lucas in the front. that one will get som American boy's raising there eyebrows.... By the way my 86 745 Volvo was Built in Belgium sold in Luxenbourgh and i bought it in Uk and I imported it to Sweden in 1999
If you send your oil pan for chroming you will want to soak it in a strong detergent for 3 or 4 hours at around 140 degrees farenhiet to release the oil in the aluminum. Otherwise you will either have to pay the plating shop for the clean up or your chrome will peel.
Not wanting to "rain on anybodys parade" but a chrome flathead oilpan (also applies to ANY engine) would reflect heat IN! (a thing called "emmisivity") I know, I know, lots of you use chromed oil pans on flatheads; but when the engine is in the MARGINAL cooling catagory, chromed pans aren't helping.
I have an aluminium pan onmy french flathead. The 3,9 l have the correct oil pan, the 4,2l (mercury crank) got a truck style with front oil pickup
Don Orosco has had a cl***ified in the latest few issues of Hemmings advertising repopped aluminum pans. Of course, they'd be one of those "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" type of deals.
The Jalopy Journal
