A body big block oil pan replacement

[Riggins44]

Need some info from those out there that have done it. I have a '68 Dart with a 383 in it with headers. I need to replace the oil pan. I looked up the correct A body big block oil pan and ordered it and I crawled under the car to have a look. It would appear that I need to remove the steering center link as it crosses the oil pan but I am wondering if there is anything else that I will need to do to get the oil pan off and the new one on. I bought the one piece gasket/windage tray to use for the new pan. Any info from those who know would be welcome. Appreciate all the good things I have learned on here about other things but this is a project I'm not looking forward to. Thanks.

 

[HemiSSDart]

The oil pump pickup is also different, so it depends on which one you have on the engine already. I was the one who sent an NOS pan to get the 893 pan done, and I also sent the correct pickup. The last time I replaced one I unbolted the motor mounts and there was just enough room to jack the engine up by the trans bell housing to get the pan on after removing the center link. If you have a shroud for your radiator then that has to be removed also. I put towels on the top of the bell housing so it wouldn't scratch the firewall. The exhaust had enough room to go up without being disconnected. Of course this was on a 4-speed car, so I also disconnected the z-bar...

 

[matthon]

one piece gasket/windage tray

This will starve your engine at higher rpms with the dinky a-body big block pan.
Better off without the windage tray.

 

[HemiSSDart]

This will starve your engine at higher rpms with the dinky a-body big block pan.
Better off without the windage tray.

I ran a DC windage tray with the 893 pan with no issues for decades. Mostly street driven but an occasional strip use...

 

[matthon]

I ran a DC windage tray with the 893 pan with no issues for decades.

Maybe the design is different from the 1 piece gasket/tray.
I can only speak to the 1 piece.

 

[66fs]

... It would appear that I need to remove the steering center link as it crosses the oil pan but I am wondering if there is anything else that I will need to do to get the oil pan off and the new one on...

The 68-69 383 suspensions used a different pitman and idler arms. Firm Feel should have them.

Firmfeel Mopar Suspension and Steering