Oil pan problem...got to fix tomarrow

[OldRedFord]

Well I sat the motor in my truck this evening.

Noticed a problem tho.

You can got the oil pan drain plug off no way no how.

Can I just drill a hole somewhere else into the sump that would be more easier to get to? What about a small hole in the frame? Would that weaken it?

[hot_roder09]

is this a 302 or a 351windsor if so i had the same problem with my 302 in my 65 had to go to a rear sump oil pump from a later truck engine and it worked great can get one of of eba for about 30 bucks

[70_F100]

You need to get the correct oil pan.

Drilling a hole in the pan won't work, without some additional welding.

Drilling a hole in the frame is kinda cheesy...

[robroy]

Good evening Tim!

I had a custom drain plug installed on my oil pan by a local shop for $43.61. You can see all the photos in this post!

I'm not familiar with 385-series engines though. Do you happen to know if there are pre-made pans with the drain plug in an agreeable place?

Robroy

[OldRedFord]

I can weld.

If I got a rear sump pan....thats another $200.

I think I will weld in a piece of 1/8" thick plate inside elsewhere, drill a hole, tap hole for a plug. Thread in plug. Clean pan out. Put pan back on and go back to trying to get the engine and transmission in.

[70_F100]

That should work fine (but go with 1/4), if you have plenty of clearance elsewhere!!

[robroy]

Good evening Tim!

That sounds like a plan to me!

Yet would you consider welding a deep nut to the outside of the pan instead? It worked pretty nicely for my custom drain plug, and you get the benefits of having a lot of threads instead of just a few (torque distribution among the threads and less likely to back out, as I understand it).

Here's what they did on my pan:



Robroy

[hazelnut]

I had a 460 in a 68 years ago and i cut a hole in the crossmember to drain the oil, i wouldnt do it again because everytime i changed the oil it went everywhere and the frame was always oily and dirty. This would be the easyest fix for the problem but i dont think you would like the results. I would put a bung in the front of the pan so you can drain the oil. Look at robroys pan and what he had done to it. You may go to summit and they might have one that screws together for a drain plug. If it were me i would buy one that was a weld on because then you wouldnt have to pull the pan, but you would have to try and keep metal shaveings out of the pan. What i do if i have to vacume out a small hole is use a air nozzel the has a pick up tube on it and use the end of the pickup hose as a vacume and try to vacume out any shaveing the might have gottin inside when the hole is drilled. If you decide to have one welded on i would have it TIG welded because you wouldnt have to worrie about contamination getting inside of your pan.

[OldRedFord]

Good evening Tim!

That sounds like a plan to me!

Yet would you consider welding a deep nut to the outside of the pan instead? It worked pretty nicely for my custom drain plug, and you get the benefits of having a lot of threads instead of just a few (torque distribution among the threads and less likely to back out, as I understand it).

Here's what they did on my pan:

[ Image ]

Robroy

If I still had my MIG welder and not just my stick welder I would.