1960 Oil Pan

[Mark P.]

Can someone tell me if this is the correct oil pan for a late 1960 245HP car.

The 58-60 NCRS judging manual has no pictures and just states "a five quart capacity pan, with smooth bottom, three steps, and a drain plug located at bottom rear center. Drain plug requires a 7/8 wrench for removal".

[Loren L.]

Re: 1960 Oil Pan

It would appear to be correct. Turn the pan over and measure from the table/floor to the top of the front seal semi-circle; if it is 2 1/4", it's a
3789629; if it is 2 1/2", then it is the 359937 reissue.

[Tom D.]

Re: 1960 Oil Pan

Loren:

Turn over so it sits flat on the gasket surface, right?

If yes, then I assume the "curl edge" on the front is deeper (by 1/4 inch) on the original pan. The contact surface for the seal should still be the same, right?

Why am I asking this?
Some might think you are saying the radius of the contact surface is different. I don't think you mean that.

td

[Joe L.]

Re: 1960 Oil Pan

Loren:

Turn over so it sits flat on the gasket surface, right?

If yes, then I assume the "curl edge" on the front is deeper (by 1/4 inch) on the original pan. The contact surface for the seal should still be the same, right?

Why am I asking this?
Some might think you are saying the radius of the contact surface is different. I don't think you mean that.

td

Tom------


The radius of the "seal contact surface" is different on 1975+ replacements for the 57-62 pans versus the original pans. All ORIGINAL C1 pans as well as replacements sold by GM through about 1975 had a radius of 2-1/4". Later replacement pans have a radius of 2-3/8". The reason for the change in the radius was a change in the thickness of the front oil pan seal.

1975 and later small block PRODUCTION pans went to the 2-3/8" radius. For some reason that's always baffled me, GM saw fit at the same time to change the oil pans used for EARLIER small block applications to the same style seal used for 1975+ oil pans. This change has caused GREAT confusion and problems with obtaining the correct oil pan gasket set.

Why in the world that GM made the front seal change for 1957-74 small block REPLACEMENT oil pans remains a mystery. However, it must have been a very expensive tooling change for them, so they must have had a very good reason to do it.

The oil pan in the photos above looks to me to be an old, original style pan. I'll bet that it has the 2-1/4" seal radius and I generally only bet on sure things.

[Tom D.]

Re: 1960 Oil Pan

Thanks - I think this answers very well. Now I recall that neighbor (Bob S.) had leaks due to wrong seals in the "right" package.

TD