Hello peeps!! I have been battling an engine swap for days now...and thought i was winning.Then, all of a sudden I noticed the oil pan was sitting on top of the center link!! DAMMIT! Had the oil pan notched..But, now the oil pan wont go on the engine because of the oil pump housing touching the pan.... Iam thoroughly frustrated at this point .Is there a certain motor mount, or a specialty oil pan, or any tips to make this swap work?? The motor mounts will mount up, only if the oil pan would work out, and not interfere with the center link....which it doesn't...Please HELP!!!! Thanks in advance. I hope someone out there will know what to do.... Hopeless in Seattle, Karl
sorry to hear your problem, You could fix it by putting a buick motor in no clearence problems :grin:
Hey Karl. Interesting swap you've got going there. Couple of ideas for you that may help, and may just frustrate you even more!! It sounds like the biggest problem is the steering linkage on the Buick vs the linkage on the donor car. I am more of an "A" body guy but perhaps there is a different pan contour available that came from Olds in a similar sized car. For instance, the 98 and the Electra should share frames/steering types. Perhaps the LeSabre and the Delmont or maybe the 88 have similar steering linkages. What body did the motor come out of? The second thing you might try is this: Find an Olds oil pan that nobody will mind you chopping up. Make sure to get all of the old oil, grease and grit off the outside of the pan (at least the part you are going to keep). Measure down just enough to hold the basic shape of the pan rail and cut off the rest of it. Toss that piece. Take the pan rail and bolt it to the block with the thickest gaskets you can find or perhaps two gaskets as this will build in the little extra clearance you will need. Lower the engine into the frame and be sure it is sitting on the mounts properly. Take some aluminum foil and make it several layers thick by folding it into strips about 2 - 3 inches wide and 6 - 7 inches long. Using the strips and some duct tape, build a "pan" out of the reinforced foil. Once you have the basic shape of your new pan, be sure you have appropriate clearance outside the pan for the framerails, steering, front-end parts and that there is no interference in any of the steering linkage or suspension movement. Then raise the engine taking care not to reshape your new pan. Take the bolts out of the pan and check for clearance from rotating parts, oil pickup screen and all of the internal fasteners. Then take your new, high-tech "Oil Pan Template" to your favorite welder and turn him (or her) loose. Obviously building the template is much more difficult than it sounds and I guess you could probably figure several hours for getting it done, start to finish but you would know it fit, assuming of course that you and welder can both do your part. Good luck with this swap. Let me know how, or if, it goes. Phil
In a 68 :stmad: :stmad: :spank: Just kidding . You do what you need to do but there is alot of Buick motors out there to put in "your" 68 LeSabre! Good Luck !!!!ou:
