1965 396 Oil pan and center bolt

[Dave C.]

I have a 1965 396 car. The timing cover has the provision for the center bolt but the oil pan has no center hole. Was the pan unique or only a hole drilled. Thanks for any help.

[mike mccagh]

Re: 1965 396 Oil pan and center bolt

both of my 396's utilize the pan to timing chain cover fastener, a 1/4" hex head bolt. does your oil pan have the reinforcements at all four corners? mike

[Dave C.]

Re: 1965 396 Oil pan and center bolt

Yes all 4 reinforcements but no center hole

[mike mccagh]

Re: 1965 396 Oil pan and center bolt

i'd guess the pan is off a c-3 or GM car/truck , mark 4 equipped , assembled in the late 60's or seventies. the service replacement pans available from chevy in the 80's lacked the reinforcements. mike

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 396 Oil pan and center bolt

Mike and Dave------

The SERVICE oil pans available for the last 20 years, or so, do not have the corner reinforcements. However, reproductions are available for these reinforcements and they can be added with no way to discern that they're not spot-welded to the pan (with the pan installed, of course).

Also, the 67-69 PRODUCTION oil pans, which were also once-upon-a-time SERVICE for 65-66 lacked the hole for the timing cover screw, but did have the welded-on corner reinforcements. So, it's possible that you have one of these.

If the pan has a REAR oil drain, offset from the centerline of the pan, it is most likely a Corvette oil pan. The Corvette oil pans used for 65-74 big blocks (and 63-74 small blocks) were unique-to-Corvette pieces. If the pan has a side oil drain, then it is NOT a Corvette pan.

[Wayne M.]

Was the BB '67 timing cover the first w/NO nut ?

ie. did the pan w/no hole coincide with elimination of the nut, leaving just the hole for the retaining tab of the front timing cover-to-pan seal ?

[Joe L.]

Re: Was the BB '67 timing cover the first w/NO nut

Wayne-----

I don't think that they exactly coincided. There were several iterations of the pan. I think that, for awhile, the pan continued to have the hole after the nut in the front cover was gone. Later, the hole disappeared. This may have been a change to the specs for a single part number, rather than a new part number being issued for the no-hole pan.

[Mark #28455]

timing cover used on pass cars as well

The timing cover was used on pass cars as well, so with the limited use of the Corvette oil pan, it's most likely they used up all the timing covers long before the oil pans were all gone.
Mark