K member notching question
Ive done a lot of reading about K member notching but I’m a little confused if the notching is only nessary if the engine is installed from the top with the oil pan in place. If the K member is out of the car and I atach It to the engine defore it goes in the car will a milodon street strip 7 or 8 quart pan fit without notching the K member. I ask because I want to get the K powder coated but the engine is not done to check things. Thanks.
I have a 1971 360 with a Milodon 7qt roadrace pan, that has the sideways kick out and hangs below the 1970 Duster K member; installed in a 1968 Barracuda.
The notch was mandatory; not only to install it, but afterwards I had to enlarge the notch slightly so it didn't rattle.
My engine had to be slightly raised for header clearance, which also decreased the pan to K clearance, so more notching was required to the sides. Then during hard braking the pan would hit the K on the front, so more notching.
By now, it sounds like my notch is huge,lol. But that is not the case, it's only on the passenger side corner that the pan is tight, and I just whittled it out bit by bit on the lowest flat flange part After final install, I have about 3/8 clearance to the front and a lil more to the side. Installing the engine from the top is still a lil tricky. This is all on the passenger side corner. The driver's side was fine.
I highly recommend a skid plate cuz sooner or later that pan will snag something, and unless you find a pro to fix the cracks, you will be an unhappy guy. I finally gave up repairing it in frame, and dropped her down for a serious cleaning, then had a actual welder guy stitch it up.
