C2 327 Oil Pan

[Robert Jacobson]

Hi there

I have a 1967 Corvette with a 327/300HP engine which has a oil pan which is painted red. I am under the impression that the oil pan should be orange, so I'm thinking that it is not the original pan. My question is where would the part number be located on the original pan and what would the part number be?

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide

Bob

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 327 Oil Pan

Bob-----

The part number for the oil pan originally used on your engine was GM #3820000. Unfortunately, part numbers do not appear anywhere on this oil pan and there are no other identifying markings.

63-74 Corvette small block oil pans are unique to Corvettes and were not used on any other Chevrolet chassis. These pans, including the standard "5 quart" oil pan that your engine was supplied with, have a longer and shallower sump than passenger car oil pans. Also, the oil drain is on the lower rear surface of the sump. Many passenger car oil pans have the oil drain on the side of the pan. If your pan has a side oil drain, it is NOT a 63-74 Corvette small block oil pan. If it has a rear drain as I described, it may or may not be an original-type pan.

[Robert Jacobson]

Re: C2 327 Oil Pan

Thank you joe for the info

My pan does have the drain plug at the rear. Would the pan have been painted red at the factory for any reason? I have a feeling that this engine has never been rebuilt before, although one of the previous owners may have had to replace just the pan for some reason.

thanks again
Bob

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 327 Oil Pan

Bob-----

The oil pans were originally painted with the complete engine. So, they would always be exactly the same color as the rest of the engine. However, if an oil pan was replaced, SERVICE oil pans were usually supplied unpainted. So, presumably, the replacer would have to paint the pan if for nothing more than rust protection. The replacer might not have the exact color match paint available to make the pan match the original engine. In that case, the replacer might paint the pan with the closest color paint that he/she had available. That could have been red, in this case.

[Robert Jacobson]

Re: C2 327 Oil Pan

Joe Thanks Again NM