Oil Pans with LS engine swaps
02-21-2021, 01:38 PM
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Oil Pans with LS engine swaps
This is a guide to engine oil pans with LS engine swaps into a 3rd gen F-body. This does not cover dry sump systems. Related information about LS oil systems can be found here,
* AFM / DOD delete, **future hot link**
* Converting LS7 dry sump to wet sump, https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...-dry-sump.html
* Oil control with LS engines, **future hot link**
Very few oil pans fit the 3rd gen F-body chassis using a stock k-member. Most styles of oil pans either clash with the k-member or the sump hangs too low making it susceptible to road hazards. OEM style pans are made of cast aluminum and will fracture and spill oil if struck hard enough, so it is very wise that the k-member protect the pan to prevent accidental loss of oil and subsequent engine failure.
General guidance is given below but results can vary from car to car with all the varieties of engine mounts on the market today. The best information this thread has to offer is the pan dimensions. Bottom line is you will succeed if you pay attention to dimensions and take good measurements on your car.
Notes about dipsticks: Proper oil fill is determined by the vertical distance between oil level and the rail of the engine block. That distance is the same for engines of same stroke, regardless of what oil pan is used. This means paired sets of oil dipstick & tube are highly interchangeable between different engines of the same stroke. You can choose the paired set based on your personal preference for the most part. I personally hate the LS3 dipstick because it is near impossible to read with fresh oil. I find the LS1 F-body dipstick much easier to read.
Oil Pan Fitments
F-body LS1: This is the only OEM pan that truly fits the chassis. Dimensions are shown below. Clearance is very tight between the sump and rear of the k-member. Sometimes the weld beads must be ground off the k-member, though most people have success without modification.
Unfortunately, this is also the least desirable OEM pan in terms of performance. There is only a partial windage tray because the front pan is so shallow. A stroker engine will drag oil at the front of the pan and might even scrape rod bolts. This causes oil aeration leading to possible loss of oil pressure at high rpm and excessive oil mist in the PCV system.
Truck: Truck pans will physically fit but the sump hangs 3" lower than the F-body pan and will protrude far below the k-member. Swappers on tight budgets have used these pans but user beware...
Holley 302-2: Fits with stock k-member. Pan has clearance for engine up to 3.62" stroke.
Holley 302-3: Might fit with stock k-member but need somebody to verify. Pan has clearance for engines up to 4" stroke.
Holley 302-1: Does not fit stock k-member. Fits BMR k-member. Pan has clearance for engines up to 4.25" stroke.
C5 Batwing: Clashes with the stock A-arm mounts. Fits BMR k-member and A-arms (barely).
C6 Corvette: Does not fit stock k-member. Fits BMR k-member.
CTS-V: Does not fit stock k-member. May fit some tubular k-members but the deep sump reduces ground clearance.
GTO: Has front sump and does not fit.
LS3 Camaro: Does not fit. Awesome pan with 8 quart capacity but simply too large for a 3rd gen chassis.
* AFM / DOD delete, **future hot link**
* Converting LS7 dry sump to wet sump, https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...-dry-sump.html
* Oil control with LS engines, **future hot link**
Very few oil pans fit the 3rd gen F-body chassis using a stock k-member. Most styles of oil pans either clash with the k-member or the sump hangs too low making it susceptible to road hazards. OEM style pans are made of cast aluminum and will fracture and spill oil if struck hard enough, so it is very wise that the k-member protect the pan to prevent accidental loss of oil and subsequent engine failure.
General guidance is given below but results can vary from car to car with all the varieties of engine mounts on the market today. The best information this thread has to offer is the pan dimensions. Bottom line is you will succeed if you pay attention to dimensions and take good measurements on your car.
Notes about dipsticks: Proper oil fill is determined by the vertical distance between oil level and the rail of the engine block. That distance is the same for engines of same stroke, regardless of what oil pan is used. This means paired sets of oil dipstick & tube are highly interchangeable between different engines of the same stroke. You can choose the paired set based on your personal preference for the most part. I personally hate the LS3 dipstick because it is near impossible to read with fresh oil. I find the LS1 F-body dipstick much easier to read.
Oil Pan Fitments
F-body LS1: This is the only OEM pan that truly fits the chassis. Dimensions are shown below. Clearance is very tight between the sump and rear of the k-member. Sometimes the weld beads must be ground off the k-member, though most people have success without modification.
Unfortunately, this is also the least desirable OEM pan in terms of performance. There is only a partial windage tray because the front pan is so shallow. A stroker engine will drag oil at the front of the pan and might even scrape rod bolts. This causes oil aeration leading to possible loss of oil pressure at high rpm and excessive oil mist in the PCV system.
Truck: Truck pans will physically fit but the sump hangs 3" lower than the F-body pan and will protrude far below the k-member. Swappers on tight budgets have used these pans but user beware...
Holley 302-2: Fits with stock k-member. Pan has clearance for engine up to 3.62" stroke.
Holley 302-3: Might fit with stock k-member but need somebody to verify. Pan has clearance for engines up to 4" stroke.
Holley 302-1: Does not fit stock k-member. Fits BMR k-member. Pan has clearance for engines up to 4.25" stroke.
C5 Batwing: Clashes with the stock A-arm mounts. Fits BMR k-member and A-arms (barely).
C6 Corvette: Does not fit stock k-member. Fits BMR k-member.
CTS-V: Does not fit stock k-member. May fit some tubular k-members but the deep sump reduces ground clearance.
GTO: Has front sump and does not fit.
LS3 Camaro: Does not fit. Awesome pan with 8 quart capacity but simply too large for a 3rd gen chassis.
Last edited by QwkTrip; 09-01-2022 at 06:46 PM.
02-21-2021, 01:39 PM
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Re: Oil Pans with LS engine swaps
Place holder for fabricated oil pans
02-21-2021, 01:55 PM
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Re: Oil Pans with LS engine swaps
I have what is essentially is the Holley 302-1 pan and it fits the stock crossmember. Where are you seeing that it does not fit?
02-21-2021, 02:36 PM
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Re: Oil Pans with LS engine swaps
What do you mean by "is essentially a 302-1"? It either is or it isn't.
I did a dry fitup of Holley 302-1 to my stock k-member with UMI aluminum solid engine mounts (2323) and Spohn LS1 motor mount adapters (971). I could see daylight between the pan and k-member but it was very close. Would have to route brake lines behind the k-member because there's not enough room under the pan. I took a conservative line because I'm worried about variances from car to car. And I'd be afraid to use rubber engine mounts in case the pan could strike the k-member.
You're right, I guess I could just use those words so people can feel free look into it if they want.
I did a dry fitup of Holley 302-1 to my stock k-member with UMI aluminum solid engine mounts (2323) and Spohn LS1 motor mount adapters (971). I could see daylight between the pan and k-member but it was very close. Would have to route brake lines behind the k-member because there's not enough room under the pan. I took a conservative line because I'm worried about variances from car to car. And I'd be afraid to use rubber engine mounts in case the pan could strike the k-member.
You're right, I guess I could just use those words so people can feel free look into it if they want.
02-21-2021, 02:52 PM
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Re: Oil Pans with LS engine swaps
I have the pan that was designed by someone else and sold to Holley at a later time. It's a JZ Motorworks (something like that) pan and is the same dimensions as the Holley 302-1. I have the Spohn stands with 4th gen engine mounts and I have a little more clearance than that
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