Big Block Oil Pans and Retirement

[Rob Dame]

Re: Big Block Oil Pans and Retirement

Congratulations Joe, I guess this means you'll be spending more
time next year in New England with those Ipswich clams.
Take Care
Rob

[artarmstrong]

Re: Big Block Oil Pans and Retirement

Joe, Congratulations---now you will find out why we retirees LOVE Saturday!!!!

I hesitate to mention this here, but I will------now that you will have a little more free time maybe we can persuade you to become a Vettehead--you would be very welcome and I think you would enjoy our camaraderie.

Life is good!
Art

[Bill W.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pans and Retirement

My wife was just "downsized" from IBM the last day of june . 300+ people in her dept. jobs went to Canada. she is still looking for a job to support my Corvette habbit. Bill. Joe is the drain plug in the same place and size as a 65 BB ?

[Chuck G.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pans and Retirement

Great info on the oil pan, but more importantly, congratulations to you, Joe. ENJOY your retirement. I hope that you will continue to be the tremendous asset that you are to the entire Corvette hobby. I'll take this opportunity to thank you here on the DB for all of the help that you've given me over the years, both on the DB and via personal communications. Chuck

[John Wire]

Re: Big Block Oil Pans and Retirement

Congratulations and good luck. Look forward to seeing pics of your "ZL-1".

[Joe C.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pans and Retirement

Congratulations on your retirement, Joe. I have had the pleasure of "virtually" knowing you for only 3+ years--look forward to many more.

Joe

BTW: How do you manage to fit all those part numbers on your arms??

[Eric Fairclough]

Re: Big Block Oil Pans and Retirement

Congratulations on your retirement Joe. Now is the time for your fun to really begin. Let us know if you come up with any new hobby ideas in addition to the vette hobby. Eric

[Craig S.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pans and Retirement

Bob - I bet you miss those 3 AM Sunday morning calls....Craig

[William C.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pans and Retirement

Congratulations Joe, good to have you in the fold with the rest of us Retirees

[Harmon C.]

Good Luck Joe Have Fun With your Hobby *NM*

[Joe L.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pans and Retirement

Rob------

I can taste them right now! If it weren't for the New England winters and that "white stuff" that falls every now-and-then, I'd be on my way on the December 28th (or, maybe, even the evening of December 27th).

[Craig S.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pans and Retirement

You guys make me jealous...I think I will go puke. At least I am on vacation through Jan 6, gives me a taste of the real life away from IBM. Like most of you, I could probably keep busy on my vette projects for about 30 years....Craig

[Joe L.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pans and Retirement

Bill----

I don't think that the drain plug, itself, is configured like the 65 original. However, original configuration plugs are easily available in reproduction. There are plenty of original examples around, too, since these plugs weren't just used on big blocks. Otherwise, and as far as I know, the 65 Corvette big block oil drain is configured exactly like the drain on the 14091356 oil pan.

One thing that I've mentioned previously is this: an oil pan is manufactured using a multi-stage die set. This sort of tooling is VERY expensive. The Corvette big block oil pan is a Corvette-only piece. This means that it was always produced in very low quantity. GM would have had to have a VERY good reason for modifying or, shudder the thought, replacing the tooling. I expect that's why the pan changed very little over the years of its PRODUCTION and SERVICE use. I would not be, at all, surprised if the tooling used today to produce the 14091356 oil pan is the same tooling, or substantially the same tooling, as was used to produce the 1965 oil pan. When that tooling breaks or requires expensive refurbishment, then I would expect that word that strikes fear into the hearts Corvette owners to appear------"discontinued".

[Wayne K.]

Don't worry Joe , we'll keep you busy.Congrats. *NM*

[Michael W.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pans and Retirement

Joe,

Congratulations on the beginning of the best time of your life! Can't wait for my turn.