1952-59 Ford almost done, but wait is that a crack?????

so i finally got all my pullies and parts to finish my engine. the plan was to put the remaining parts on the engine and drop it in the frame. but when i was bolting my oil pan on it cracked!!! it is a finned aluminum pan that i bought from KMJ performance. great looking pan but i cant believe it cracked. no way did i over tighten it. i was using a 1/4 inch drive ratchet by hand!!! so this happened on thursday. i have now tried to reach kmj to either get another one and hope just mine was bad, or at least get my money back. i have called twice and left messages, and not heard back. so today i sent an email and i hope that they get back to me soon. this is the last thing i need to be completly done with the engine and put me that much closer to dropping the body on. any one else used a oilpan from kmj? or dealt with them?

Jason

 

man thats a bummer ,hope all goes well and you get another one!!

 

man that ****s. i wouldnt think if you were using a 1/4 inch hand ratchet there would be a way to over tightn it.

 

Look on the rail of the pan. My guess is that there is a protrosion or something on it that kept the pan from seating flat, hence the crack. You'll probably spend more time than it's worth to get any satisfaction. My suggestion is bolt the pan to your block or another like it and have it welded. Then make sure both mating surfaces are clean and flat when installing.

 

Street has a point, or you could have simply and unknowingly tightened it incorrectly. I don't know your mechanical skills but just in case this is your first time with this, Alum can be temperamental depending on the thickness. Place your gasket, use a little oil on the gasket to hold it in place while your installing, or gasket Tack is good too, thumb tighten all the bolts and then, just like you tighten your lugs, tighten your bolts alternating from side to side and front to back, Snug them first, once all are snugged, then finish tightening them. This will help with the torque stress on the pan and help prevent the alum from cracking... If you know this already, I apologize for bringing it up.