I was installing my new suspension and when I got it all torn apart I realized it would be pretty easy to change out the new motor mounts I got to go with the suspension. Well, I was really limited on 2x6's; I had only one to cushion the base of the oil pan from the bottle jack I was using. As my luck would have it, the 2x6 broke in half and pushed the bottom of the oil pan in about an inch. I knew better than to use olny one board, but it was all I had. How far is the bottom of the oil pan from the oil pump suction? Would the bottom of the pan being smashed in by about an inch interfere with oil pressure? All I have is the stock idiot gage so I dont know what my oil pressure is really at. Can the pan be changed with the motor in the truck or do I even not need to worry about it?

 

I've changed these pans many times but I removed transmission to do it. The pickup tube is bolted to block at two positions. It sits close to bottom of pan and takes time to remove since the pickup tube has to come out with the pan. If the damage to pan is minor it probally will be ok. I 've seen some pans damaged without any concerns. Customers just didn't want to spend the money to have repaired. $350 for pan and 8 hours labor. Sorry for your bad luck.

 

Hate to say it, but replaceing the pan is your "safest" way to go.

 

curiousity would make me take the pan off and have a "look-see" at the pickup tube and make sure the story has a happy ending, not a tragic one. And, while it's off, you can pound out the dent in the oil pan

 

Just a thought. Could you drill a small hole in the center of the dented area, use some type of hook, slide hammer or like tool to remove the dent, then plug the hole with a small screw with a rubber washer on it? It wouldn't tell you if you had damaged teh puickup tube but it would remove the dent and save you the effort of replacing the pan.

Like I said , just a thought.

 

after dent pulling mig weld it shut...problem solved....dont use a screw please.

 

One inch is about where the pick-up tube rests. I know they are a PITA to remove but I would pull the pan.

If you decide not to pull the pan, get a stud gun off someone to pull out the dent. I used one the other day to pull some dents out of an expansion pipe for my dirt bike and it worked really well. Then all you have to do is grind off the stud and touch up with paint.

 

Thanks guys. I will probably just replace the pan when I get it off. I cant see going through all of the trouble to just put the old pan back on. It took the weight of the motor and transmission to smash the pan in, it will take that much force to get that dent out. The way it is smashed, I don't think it will pound out. There goes $400 down the drain....

 

I like the dent pull and weld idea, clever. It would work fine, and save a ton of work/money.