Early A swap, oil pan problems

-
Rick Wellman

Rick Wellman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2018
Messages
227
Reaction score
52
Location
Kenova, wv
ive got a 65 cuda and I’m doing a v8 swap. Putting in a 2001 318 magnum. Everything’s is going good till I get to the oil pan. Bought one from summit, it don’t fit. Hits on the oil pump and won’t go down. Tried a 64 273 pan. It fits all but the rear seal on the bearing cap. It likes about 3/4 “ seating down on the rear main cap. All bolt holes go down flush but there’s this big gap over the rear cap. Tried the original oil pan off the 318 magnum. Fits good but hits on the center link. It’s a rear sump pan. So can anybody tell me what pan I need. I know it has to be a center sump pan to clear the center link and the k frame. I’m at a loss here. Thanks
 
Rick Wellman said:
ive got a 65 cuda and I’m doing a v8 swap. Putting in a 2001 318 magnum. Everything’s is going good till I get to the oil pan. Bought one from summit, it don’t fit. Hits on the oil pump and won’t go down. Tried a 64 273 pan. It fits all but the rear seal on the bearing cap. It likes about 3/4 “ seating down on the rear main cap. All bolt holes go down flush but there’s this big gap over the rear cap. Tried the original oil pan off the 318 magnum. Fits good but hits on the center link. It’s a rear sump pan. So can anybody tell me what pan I need. I know it has to be a center sump pan to clear the center link and the k frame. I’m at a loss here. Thanks
Click to expand...
Was car originally a V-8? If it was a slanty you need a V-8 center link. Even with a V-8 center link you may still have
problems as that is a different engine than came stock in those cars. That would be the first thing to look at. The K
members were the same for 6 or 8 up to 66. 67 and up, the K member is different between 6 and 8 cylinder.
 
It had a /6 but I changed it over. Put a v8 center link and a v8 k member. Did not know they were the same up to 66. Took a 64 cuda v8 k member and took out my k member. I guess I didn’t have to change it huh ? Just can’t seem to find the right oil pan. I’m bout ready to cut 2 oil pans and make one !
 
Rick Wellman said:
It had a /6 but I changed it over. Put a v8 center link and a v8 k member. Did not know they were the same up to 66. Took a 64 cuda v8 k member and took out my k member. I guess I didn’t have to change it huh ? Just can’t seem to find the right oil pan. I’m bout ready to cut 2 oil pans and make one !
Click to expand...
Maybe someone who has more experience with that type of swap will have an answer.
 
Pictures would help. Did you buy the centerlink from a member on the forum? I know someone was selling a centerlink they claimed was a early a v8 and it was not.

Jake
Rick Wellman said:
Thanks for your reply. All info helps.
Click to expand...
 
Rick Wellman said:
It had a /6 but I changed it over. Put a v8 center link and a v8 k member. Did not know they were the same up to 66. Took a 64 cuda v8 k member and took out my k member. I guess I didn’t have to change it huh ? Just can’t seem to find the right oil pan. I’m bout ready to cut 2 oil pans and make one !
Click to expand...
Been there done that. Did a 360 swap not realizing the oil pan wouldnt work. Long before the interweb existed. Have notched and modified a couple pans since.
 
Rick Wellman said:
Thanks for your reply. All info helps.
Click to expand...

Here's a picture of the pan that I'm using to put a 72 318 in a 66 Valiant... This one goes on the 273/318/340 from 64 - 69 style with the six nubs for the end seals on the oil pan....

I haven't dropped it in yet, so I'm not sure if there are any issues dropping it in... Hopefully it has the proper scallops so the center link and tie rods don't hit.....

DSC04357 B.JPG


DSC04359 B.JPG


DSC04362 B.JPG


DSC04393 B.JPG


DSC04390 B.JPG
 
Not there yet but /6 link ok. need 360 magnum pan with rubber gaskets on pan ends.(neccessary)and different oil pickup should be good. verify next month.... when I install
Magnum swap total different boat.....
Thanks, Dave
 
Are you confidant that the pan which is supposed to be for a 273 is actually a 273 pan? With the large rear opening it sounds like you probably need a 360 pan.
 
Last edited:
grimreaper said:
Are you confidant that the pan which is supposed to be for a 273 is actually a 273 pan? With the large rear opening it sounds like it may be a 360 pan.
Click to expand...

360 pans use a smaller gasket on the rear of the pan and are not interchangeable with the 273/318/340...

The pans with the six nubs for the end seals were not used after 69, so it will fit a 273 for sure... It will fit a 273/318/340...

In 70 they changed to the two nub end seals....

Here'a s thread that has some info on oil pans:

How to ID a Small Block Oil Pan 60's - 80's
 
Yes I took the pan off a 64 cuda. 273 automatic. Apparently this 2001 318 magnum has a small rear main cap. Thanks for replying to my post.
 
are you using a High volume oil pump? Try a generic 360 center sump style pan as the 318 mag had a 360 rear seal size IIRC.
 
Last edited:
krazykuda said:
360 pans use a smaller gasket on the rear of the pan and are not interchangeable with the 273/318/340...

The pans with the six nubs for the end seals were not used after 69, so it will fit a 273 for sure... It will fit a 273/318/340...

In 70 they changed to the two nub end seals....

Here'a s thread that has some info on oil pans:

How to ID a Small Block Oil Pan 60's - 80's
Click to expand...
Good info. Thanks a bunch
 
pishta said:
are you using a High volume oil pump? Try a generic 360 pan as the 318 mag had a 360 rear seal size IIRC.
Click to expand...
Using the stock pump that came on the 318 magnum. Do I need a 360 magnum pan or just a 360 pan and is there a difference ?
 
To swap any kind of Magnum motor, either 5.2 or 5.9 into our older Mopars, you need to use an LA 360 oil pan. Magnums were standardized to use the same pan for either motor, and it was the 360 size rear main pan.
 
Again I bought a 360 Center sump pan for Magnum with the pickup so I can put it in an early a body.

If I'm wrong I'm wrong but that's what I'm doing.
 
xLURKxDOGx said:
Pictures would help. Did you buy the centerlink from a member on the forum? I know someone was selling a centerlink they claimed was a early a v8 and it was not.

Jake
Click to expand...
No, used the one out of the 64 cuda that was a 273 . I’ll post some pics tomorrow of my 273 pan. I’ll also put it on the motor to show the gap at the rear I’m dealing with
 
JDMopar said:
To swap any kind of Magnum motor, either 5.2 or 5.9 into our older Mopars, you need to use an LA 360 oil pan. Magnums were standardized to use the same pan for either motor, and it was the 360 size rear main pan.
Click to expand...
Maybe I got the wrong pan from Summit. Summit #3536 was the pan I bought
 
Rick Wellman said:
Let’s both hope you’re right. Thanks
Click to expand...
Now that I think about it it might have been a 360 La pan Center sump pan to go onto a 5.2 Magnum small block with the smaller rear Journal.
But you need to use those silly Rubber end gaskets which I hate.
And splice cork on side of pan.
Sorry for the dimentia
 
I'm pretty sure both the 318 magnum and 360 magnum use basically the same pan as an LA 360. Just make sure it's the car pan with center sump and use the pickup for that pan. If you use the 360 pan check for clearance of steering linkage at full turn either direction. If it hits it will be a small contact and a couple of well placed blows with a ball peen will provide clearance.
 
mycuda said:
Again I bought a 360 Center sump pan for Magnum with the pickup so I can put it in an early a body.

If I'm wrong I'm wrong but that's what I'm doing.
Click to expand...
that should work. If your having minimal clearance issues and are using the "sandwich" style motor insulators, get the early bricks. They raise the motor about 2 inches.
 
grimreaper said:
I'm pretty sure both the 318 magnum and 360 magnum use basically the same pan as an LA 360. Just make sure it's the car pan with center sump and use the pickup for that pan. If you use the 360 pan check for clearance of steering linkage at full turn either direction. If it hits it will be a small contact and a couple of well placed blows with a ball peen will provide clearance.
Click to expand...
Will do. Thanks
 
Thanks for all the replies. It has helped a lot. Monday morn I believe I can solve the problem now
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top