68 327 replace oil pan which pans will work

[andy#34338]

Hello,

I have a 68 327 motor and need to replace the oil pan. I would like to stay with a Corvette pan. How do I identify a Corvette pan from passenger car? Or, is there a difference?

Thank you in advance for your reply.
Andy

[Joe L.]

Re: 68 327 replace oil pan which pans will work

Andy------

63-74 Corvette small block oil pans, inclusing the one originally used on all 68 small blocks, are unique to Corvettes and were not used on any other Chevrolet product. All of the 63-74 small block oil pans are discontinued and difficult to locate in NOS form. Used examples are available but they may suffer from some degree of "dinging" or other distortion.

It's difficult to describe the shape of the Corvette oil pans and there are NO identifying marks (such as part numbers) to be found anywhere on them. However, they are a "1-step" design with a sump that is somewhat longer than a typical passenger car sump. Even the "5 quart" pan used on your 68 is of this configuration; the "6 quart" pan used on many solid lifter small blocks had an even longer sump. The bottom sides of the sump have a radius that is considerably greater than non-Corvette small block oil pans. Also, the oil drain is located on the rear bottom surface of the pan. Although some passenger car pans also use this drain configuration, many use a side drain. NO Corvette pan used from 1963 to 1974, big block or small block, ever used a side oil drain.

[Joe L.]

Addendum

Just to clarify, when I say that the 63-74 Corvette oil pan drain is located on the rear bottom surface of the pan, I am referring to a location at the RADIUS of the pan where the rear vertical surface meets the horizontal (bottom) surface of the sump. I am NOT referring to a location on the BOTTOM of the pan. Pre-63 Corvette small block oil pans used a drain location on the BOTTOM surface of the pan's sump; 63+ used a drain at the bottom rear RADIUS of the sump.

[andy#34338]

Joe, Thank you.

Joe, Thank you.