Installing my aluminum SRE oil pan today.

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by Mark Demko, Jun 26, 2021.

  1. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    I've been wondering this.
    Is it possible to get the pick up "the wrong distance" from the bottom?
    My analogy is using a straw to suck water from a glass....
    Too close to the bottom and its hard to draw water, the "area" becomes too small for the volume of water trying to go up the straw.
    Too close to the surface, and you can create a vortex, sucking air, yes?? Same as being low on oil?
    Close enough to the bottom, but far enough away from the bottom to not cause a restriction to flow/suction?
    Im probably over thinking, but I like to know and understand WHY stuff works or doesnt, the dynamics of things:cool:
     
  2. Fox's Den

    Fox's Den 355Xrs

    your going to have 6 qts in the thing the pickup will never be too far off the bottom unless you climb a straight up hill then you have the flap and containment area for the pickup
     
  3. Fox's Den

    Fox's Den 355Xrs

    YES I was just down there and told them if some 350 Buick guy comes in here looking for parts tell him they are all out some Guy down the street bought them all!!! :p:D:eek:
     
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  4. Steve Reynolds

    Steve Reynolds SRE Inc

    I do believe you're overthinking it a little, but that's OK! LOL In a drag application, when running a minimum amount of oil and a good designed pan with excellent oil control it can be pretty close to the bottom to prevent sucking air (cavitation), but in a street application such as yours with a pretty good amount of oil in the sump I really prefer to see it somewhat off of the bottom. Even 3/8" in your case wouldn't be too much.
    But by all means...... check the clearance when doing the pan install. That's part of "doing it right". The way the V6 and 350's are made/machined, the slightest difference in the angle of the oil pickup pad or location of the oil pickup hole and tapped holes can adversely affect the oil pickup clearance. It's a critical step that a lot of people overlook. The 400/430/455 applications are less susceptible to these errors because the pan rail and the oil pickup mounting location are on the same "plane", so once I set them when built, there's less chance of them changing on a different block or application.

    Hope this makes sense.....

    Steve
     
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  5. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    When I stand it on the bumper poppin' a wheelie, THATS what Im concerned about:p:p:p:p:p:p
     
    Steve Reynolds likes this.
  6. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    I would put some plasticine on the pickup to check the clearance to the pan bottom.
     
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  7. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    I got some Play Doh Saturday at Walmart for 50 cents:D
     
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  8. patwhac

    patwhac Well-Known Member

    I actually dinged my SRE pan a little bit on install :eek: If you're using the SHCS bolts that it comes with, then I highly suggest buying a set of stubby allen keys (1/4" is the size you really need IIRC), these will let you not scrape the pan at all like regular allen keys!
     
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  9. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    You can use wax paper over the pickup so the clay or doh doesn't get in the pickup. Drop pan on an know exactly.......its crazy to see sometime how much or lite there is on some pans/pickup combo......
     
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  10. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    Shame on you:p
    Steve's prolly gonna slap you around now, LOLOL:p:p
     
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  11. DaWildcat

    DaWildcat Platinum Level Contributor

    Much easier and less cleanup = crumple a lot of aluminum foil and then "uncrumple" it a bit. It'll take its set and tell you a lot for this kinda stuff.

    Now I want to play with Play-Doh. Thanks, guys. I'm trying to write a procedure for removing and replacing the 2020 'vette engine, and just got a flashback to childhood.

    Devon
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    Play-Doh works, but years ago I discovered duct seal from your local home improvement store.. it binds together with itself, and sticks to the parts better, for checking valve clearance.. Just a little oil on the valve and top of the duct seal, and good solid impressions, with almost no transfer of material. Cleaner to work with and Easier to find that modeling clay, and much more adhesion.

    For oil pan to pickup clearance, I cover the pickup in Saran wrap, and then plop a big ball of duct seal on the pickup.. then cover it again with Saran Wrap.. drop the pan on, don't forget the oil pan gasket, and see where your at. Put in at least two bolts, in line with the pickup.. I like to use 4 actually, to pull the pan down to where it's going to be.

    JW
     
  13. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    I wonder if Play Doh still smells crappy, I always found it nauseating :eek:
     
  14. FJM568

    FJM568 Well-Known Member

    Tastes funny too. Lol o_O
     
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  15. 72gs4spd

    72gs4spd Well-Known Member

    Installing an oil accumulator would be a good idea if you worried about a drop in oil pressure while scraping your rear bumper on the pavement. Also oil left inside under pressure can be released before starting to pre-lube eliminating dry starts.
     
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  16. DaWildcat

    DaWildcat Platinum Level Contributor

    Copy all above regarding Play Doh. I also remember it stinks and tasted salty. But I was the kid who had to taste Elmer's glue and paste in Kindergarten, too.

    Biggest childhood lesson yet, there's a big difference between Hershey's powdered chocolate milk mix versus Hershey's chocolate powder. WOW.

    Devon
     
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  17. DaWildcat

    DaWildcat Platinum Level Contributor

    I still have the 3 qt Moroso accumulator on the Wildcat. It's a center sump deepened/baffled pan now, so maybe it's not necessary anymore.

    The only downside I can think of (besides plumbing) might be for a drag car. Realize that as rpms are up, the accumulator is getting pressurized too. It might only be seconds, but those seconds are time that the engine's not getting full oil pressure.

    Devon
     
  18. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    Oh yeah BITTER!
    Vanilla Extract same way, smells awesome, tastes like crap:mad:
     
  19. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    Your heads on the way yet? Don't go to sleep on this, your SRE oil pan may start oxidizing on you....
     
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  20. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    Nothing yet Mart, I’m going to call today, I’ll keep yah posted;)
    I even have a case of PennGrade oil waiting:D
     

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