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General Info: Swap your steel oil pan for an aluminum one

BillBoost37

BillBoost37

New member
In the past I've swapped steel to aluminum oil pans on both H/C and W body cars. Recently I almost suggested to a W guy that he buy an H/C pan by mistake. The mount under the harmonic balancer on the W body prohibits this and vice versa on the H/C body.

Here are the differences in picture form to help you guys make the right choices if you choose this "nice to have" mod. Ensure you have the proper oil pick up tube and oil filter adapter to go along with the oil pan of your choice. For example if swapping an H/C aluminum pan onto a 97 Bonneville you want all three items. In a Regal you need the pan and pick up tube only.

W body pan with mount provision. W body with steel subframe requires the removal of the lip on the outter part of the mount bucket. It's a quick cut/grind.
IMG_5096.jpg

IMG_5065.jpg


H body pan
IMG_1474.jpg

IMG_1475.jpg

IMG_1677.jpg

IMG_1663.jpg
 


So if I do this swap into my 02 Monte Carlo that already has an aluminum sub frame, all I will need is the w-body pan and the pick-up tube? Do I still need the bracket as well?
 
I got the bracket, pick-up tube and pan. All I am missing is the bolts for the bracket. Do you happen to have any extras Bill, or know the sizes?
 
I grabbed some out of the parts case the other day. They are gray/silver in color, and the same thread pitch/size as the bolts for the alt tension and dogbone mount, only about 1.5-2" in length. I think it's a M10 x 1.50 thread
 


As you noticed when you put it on, that's a bit much. That looks like copper RTV, in this case I would suggest the gray engine sealant like GM etc uses.

When you put that much on, likely it gooped out all over the place.
 
I got that picture off another forum. It looked like a little too much so I thought I would ask.

I think I am going to use some Permatex Right Stuff on this. I have read and heard good things about it.
 


WHen I did my pan, I used the GRAY silicon that is recommended for hard surfaces, and I only used a bead of about 1/4 the size of that in the picture, with a little extra where the front and rear covers sit on the rail.
 
The way I did it was to put some on the pan and smear it around with my finger. That way you ensure the entire surface is coated lightly and consistently. Right STuff should work well.

Slim - it's structural and makes changing the mount and or pan gasket about a bazillion thousand gazillion times easier than that dumb horseshoe pile of crap bracket.
 
Last questions...I think. lol

Do you think I should get a new pick-up tube or should a used one be fine?

Also is there a gasket for the pick-up tube? I can't seem to find any online.
 
A used one that is for that pan will be fine. It is different than the one for the steel pan. There is a gasket for it, however you can use a little RTV w/o worries. I've done it both ways.
 


Does anyone have any information on putting a aluminum pan on a 04 Grand Prix that has the aluminum sub farms. Everything I can find say I need the steel subfram
 
From what I understand, the aluminum pan and sub frame shouldn't have any issues. My 07 has both aluminum and came that way. I remember reading that modification of some bracket is needed for an aluminum pan and steel subframe.

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