Early SBC Oil Pan

[Bernard M.]

Swap meet season and I've been bargain hunting. Last weekend I bought a SBC oil pan from a vendor that told me it was from a 283 out of a 1958 fire engine. He had enough other pieces to make me believe that's indeed where it came from. I bought it because I thought it looked deeper than a passenger car pan. After I brought it home I scraped off years of caked on gunk. In the few places where there was still paint, it wasn't orange - it was 'green' - more like turquoise but appeared to be the original color. Anyone seen this before?

I have a 1957 parts manual that shows that the same oil pan used on the 1957 Corvette was also used on the Series 6 (whatever that was). If the same held true for 1958, might this be an oil pan for a 6 quart system? It's 8" deep at the rear and has a fixed baffle.

So, take a look at the pictures. How does it compare to a Corvette oil pan of the same era? You won't make me feel bad. It's almost dent free, I only paid $2 and it has a 7/8" oil plug marked with F-C.

[Cecil L.]

Re: Early SBC Oil Pan

Definitely looks like truck engine color. If there is a difference, I would suspect it is in the location 0f the drain plug. On some truck pans I have seen the drain plug is on the bottom whereas the car pan is on the front lower face of the deep sump. For $2 I would say it's close enough.

[Joe L.]

Re: Early SBC Oil Pan

Swap meet season and I've been bargain hunting. Last weekend I bought a SBC oil pan from a vendor that told me it was from a 283 out of a 1958 fire engine. He had enough other pieces to make me believe that's indeed where it came from. I bought it because I thought it looked deeper than a passenger car pan. After I brought it home I scraped off years of caked on gunk. In the few places where there was still paint, it wasn't orange - it was 'green' - more like turquoise but appeared to be the original color. Anyone seen this before?

I have a 1957 parts manual that shows that the same oil pan used on the 1957 Corvette was also used on the Series 6 (whatever that was). If the same held true for 1958, might this be an oil pan for a 6 quart system? It's 8" deep at the rear and has a fixed baffle.

So, take a look at the pictures. How does it compare to a Corvette oil pan of the same era? You won't make me feel bad. It's almost dent free, I only paid $2 and it has a 7/8" oil plug marked with F-C.

Bernard----


I believe that "Series 6" were trucks of over 2 tons load capacity. A fire truck may very well have been built on such a chassis, depending upon what kind of fire truck it was.

Generally, the pan looks right to me. There may be some nuance I'm missing, but it generally looks like a correct Corvette pan of the 57-58 period.

Vaguely, I recall that GMC engines may have been this "turquoise" color, even though in many cases they were just a Chevrolet engine. If so, the fire truck may have been a GMC. No matter, though.

[Bernard M.]

Re: Early SBC Oil Pan

Thanks for the replies. I guess the color is explained. The oil plug is in the bottom of pan. It's my understanding that would be correct, at least for my '56. Is there any way to determine if it is for a 6 quart system? I will measure my existing installed oil pan, which I know to be for a passenger car for comparison, but I'm not sure that will be conclusive. I also believe that there is a distinguishing difference between Corvette oil pans and others related to the number of vertical ribs on the side (this has one long one and one very short one on each side as shown in the photos). I'm most interested in finding out how it compares to a correct Corvette oil pan (I'd be using it on my '56) and how to determine if it is intended for a six quart sump. Are there any other distinguishing characteristics that I have not considered?

Bernie Myers

[Mike M.]

Re: Early SBC Oil Pan

the one long and onw short rib on the side pof the pan is compatable with the late 56 and 57 vette3 pans. i'd like a view of trhe underside of the pan take from the front of the pan. mike

[Bernard M.]

Re: Early SBC Oil Pan

Thanks Mike. This may be a better bargain than I'd hoped for. I'll post the requested picture when I get home this evening.

Bernie

[Mike G.]

Re: Early SBC Oil Pan

can you post a pic of the bottom of the pan or email it to mgreene@crawford.com

[Bernard M.]

Re: Early SBC Oil Pan

Mike(s),

I will post a picture of the bottom of the oil pan late this afternoon, when I get home. I'm anxious to determine if what I've found is an acceptable substitute or would judge no better than the passenger car oil pan I'm currently using.

Bernie

[Bernard M.]

Re: Early SBC Oil Pan

Mike,

Here are pictures of the bottom of the pan and one of the inside. I'd like to have your opinion as to how this would compare with a Corvette oil pan.

Bernie

[Anthony M.]

Re: Early SBC Oil Pan

Series six may well refer to the class of a truck. In the 60's trucks were coded c10,c20,c30, c40,c50,c60,c70. In todays badging they use 1500, 2500, 3500,and the 6 series truck would be the 6500 with a GVW rating of about 33,000 lbs. Many of today's Big Block Corvette's carry these engines from these 60's trucks with gas engines.

[Mike M.]

Re: Early SBC Oil Pan

you got a winner bernie. it lacks the pair of depressions on the sides where the transition occurs(as the vettes did lack the depressions).mike

[Bernard M.]

Re: Early SBC Oil Pan

Mike,
Thanks for sharing your expertise. I'll clean it up and install it. I'm amazed at my good fortune. I'm the guy that always seems to be a day late and a dollar short. I appreciate your help.
Bernie

[Mike G.]

Re: Early SBC Oil Pan

looks correct to me. its not a passenger car pan, they have those 2 big demples in the bottom. i had an original 58 pan on my 57 and that looks like mine. here is a pic

[Mike M.]

Re: Early SBC Oil Pan

bernie: measure the height of the pan and make sure it isn't an extra capacity. should be 5 qts oil, not more like some of the big trucks.mike

[Bernard M.]

Re: Early SBC Oil Pan

Mike,

Deepest section is 8 inches. Iis there some method of determining its capacity?

Bernie