3rd Gen High Performance and Accessories (5.9L Only) Talk about Dodge/Cummins aftermarket products for third generation trucks here. Can include high-performance mods, or general accessories. THIS IS FOR THE 5.9L ONLY!
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: DashLynx

Stainless Oil Pan clearance issues

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-02-2018, 07:19 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
jeephauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lewisberry, PA
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Stainless Oil Pan clearance issues

Oil pan rust struck again so I bit the bullet and went with one of the Sno Depot stainless pan.

Finished up the install tonight along with doing a new serpentine, water pump, coolant flush, tensioner, idler, fan, fan clutch, removed bad harmonic damper on driveshaft and had balanced/ straightened, all in hopes of another 116,000 trouble free miles.

The quality of the oil pan is tremendous and the install went as good as can be expected; however, upon letting the motor down there is now only 1/8” clearance between the pan and cross member and about 2” of clearance from the deep corner of the pan and the webbing on the axle pinion.

Is here anyone else out there running this pan? If so can you comment on your clearances? I fear that I will be having interference with engine torquing and axle cycling. I also believe when I hitch up the plow tomorrow and sag the suspension I’ll be in contact with the pinion.

Really hoping to not have to do this job again to solve the issue. After all, it’s why I went with stainless in the first place since the truck will be around for many more years and miles.
Old 03-02-2018, 08:43 PM
  #2  
Registered User
 
NJTman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Land of the Toxic Avenger
Posts: 6,770
Received 1,637 Likes on 1,112 Posts
Originally Posted by jeephauler
Oil pan rust struck again so I bit the bullet and went with one of the Sno Depot stainless pan.

Finished up the install tonight along with doing a new serpentine, water pump, coolant flush, tensioner, idler, fan, fan clutch, removed bad harmonic damper on driveshaft and had balanced/ straightened, all in hopes of another 116,000 trouble free miles.

The quality of the oil pan is tremendous and the install went as good as can be expected; however, upon letting the motor down there is now only 1/8” clearance between the pan and cross member and about 2” of clearance from the deep corner of the pan and the webbing on the axle pinion.

Is here anyone else out there running this pan? If so can you comment on your clearances? I fear that I will be having interference with engine torquing and axle cycling. I also believe when I hitch up the plow tomorrow and sag the suspension I’ll be in contact with the pinion.

Really hoping to not have to do this job again to solve the issue. After all, it’s why I went with stainless in the first place since the truck will be around for many more years and miles.
So... What vehicle was this installed on? The 07?

Where did you get this pan? I've never heard of it.

Pictures?

Description of how you did the work? Replacement process???

Thanks
Old 03-03-2018, 08:07 AM
  #3  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
jeephauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lewisberry, PA
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Yes it’s on my ‘07.

Drain oil.
Remove intake plumbing from turbo.
Remove unhook down pipe from turbo.
Loosen motor mount thru bolts. Back nuts off to end of threads. Mounts are slotted.
Jack front of truck at frame to allow full axle drop.
Raise motor via lift eye on front pass side of motor enough to take weight off mount bolts.
Smack the bolts with hammer so that equal gap is on each side of mount. This will allow head and nut to clear lip on frame mount.
Raise motor until it hits firewall.
Remove 32 pan bolts.
Slide pan out.
Clean gasket surface.
Apply sealant to T joints/seams on bottom of motor gasket surface. Seam in block/covers.
Tie gasket to pan in a few places with sewing thread.
Slide pan in.
Finger tighten bolts.
Torque bolts to 21ft lbs working from center of pan to the ends evenly.
Lower motor backdown into mounts.
Remove engine hoist and lower truck to ride height.
Tighten mount bolts to 70ft lbs.
Reinstall exhaust and intake.
Fill with oil.

I did have my radiator shroud and ran off already. At minimum I would remove shroud.

Straight forward job, very dirty and time consuming.
Attached Thumbnails Stainless Oil Pan clearance issues-676f82b6-4f45-4661-aa8a-7bb204d76543.jpeg   Stainless Oil Pan clearance issues-28cf5746-a8d2-4bb2-aa34-d2315738a323.jpeg   Stainless Oil Pan clearance issues-5581f84d-96fc-4383-a011-2cd87a0292e4.jpeg   Stainless Oil Pan clearance issues-7d26ccc1-3fb8-43a2-8759-45721e7494fd.jpeg  
The following users liked this post:
NJTman (03-03-2018)
Old 03-03-2018, 11:40 AM
  #4  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
jeephauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lewisberry, PA
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Update......
I hitched up the plow to put weight on the front end then jacked up the axle and the webbing on the pinion just barely cleared the corner of the pan. I am guessing there would be no issues on a stock height truck or once I get longer control arms to recented my axle by a little.

I checked the crissmember clearance on the neighbors stock pan and it has plenty of room unlike my new stainless pan. I’ll be contacting the mfg on Monday to see what they have to say. It appears their pan is a little deeper and also squared on the edges unlike the stock pan that tapers and rounds at the edges to match the contours of the crossmember.
Attached Thumbnails Stainless Oil Pan clearance issues-7d1c04e2-7e4e-44f1-a16b-c8d234fb77a9.jpeg   Stainless Oil Pan clearance issues-ff142a1f-b530-4428-8925-c845ed85c441.jpeg   Stainless Oil Pan clearance issues-cb6cf304-ecbf-4fe8-a8e3-f162f2a907ef.jpeg   Stainless Oil Pan clearance issues-2a24cd5d-fc2f-47fd-bc5a-de5e502cde9c.jpeg   Stainless Oil Pan clearance issues-cd878fcc-597c-47f0-82cd-042efed9468a.jpeg  

Stainless Oil Pan clearance issues-3fbee273-7eb2-4fd8-b499-caf027901ce1.jpeg  

Last edited by jeephauler; 03-03-2018 at 11:42 AM. Reason: Pictures
Old 03-05-2018, 09:53 AM
  #5  
Registered User
 
BILTIT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Lloydminster SK/AB
Posts: 2,202
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
Looks like a nice pan, just too thick of mounting flange and depth/width possibly.


What was the cost on that thing?
Old 03-05-2018, 10:13 AM
  #6  
Registered User
 
NJTman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Land of the Toxic Avenger
Posts: 6,770
Received 1,637 Likes on 1,112 Posts
Holy crap! Barely enough room on that cross member. Yikes!.

That blows.
Old 03-05-2018, 10:27 AM
  #7  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
jeephauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lewisberry, PA
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by BILTIT
Looks like a nice pan, just too thick of mounting flange and depth/width possibly.
What was the cost on that thing?
Awesome pan, built extremely well. I will be suggesting some slight modifications to the mfg today when they call me back to address the fitment issues. I am not looking forward to doing the job again but at this point I don’t see a way around that.

Cost is $715.
Old 03-07-2018, 11:50 PM
  #8  
Registered User
 
bradler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 704
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by jeephauler
Awesome pan, built extremely well. I will be suggesting some slight modifications to the mfg today when they call me back to address the fitment issues. I am not looking forward to doing the job again but at this point I don’t see a way around that.

Cost is $715.
wow I was going to purchase one of these pans a few weeks ago and put it off really glad I did and saw this thread! Excellent description of the R&R process also BTW. Please keep us posted on what you find out from the manufacturer. Will you just go w a stock pan now ?
Old 03-08-2018, 07:23 AM
  #9  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
jeephauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lewisberry, PA
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
SnoDepot stayed they have not heard of the crossmember clearance issue like mine but they have had people have to grind the axle webbing and also the front of the crossmember seam to resolve some clearance issues.

The only thing that would be causing my pan/engine to sit lower could be bad motor mounts. I have a new set here waiting to go in this weekend. If hat does not solve the issue, the pan will be going back for a refund and I’ll have to decide on OEM or Dorman replacement and possibly coating the bottom for added protection.

Old 03-08-2018, 08:40 AM
  #10  
Registered User
 
NJTman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Land of the Toxic Avenger
Posts: 6,770
Received 1,637 Likes on 1,112 Posts
Originally Posted by jeephauler
SnoDepot stayed they have not heard of the crossmember clearance issue like mine but they have had people have to grind the axle webbing and also the front of the crossmember seam to resolve some clearance issues.

The only thing that would be causing my pan/engine to sit lower could be bad motor mounts. I have a new set here waiting to go in this weekend. If hat does not solve the issue, the pan will be going back for a refund and I’ll have to decide on OEM or Dorman replacement and possibly coating the bottom for added protection.

I know a few people who have powder coated theirs, which is way better than the factory crapo coatings. When I have to do mine, I'm having it sprayed with linex. It may keep the oil warmer than normal, so ill be installing an oil temp bung in the pan, so I can run a temp sensor in there. IF it gets too warm, I'll install another oil cooler to compensate.
Old 03-08-2018, 05:41 PM
  #11  
Registered User
 
bradler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 704
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by NJTman
I know a few people who have powder coated theirs, which is way better than the factory crapo coatings. When I have to do mine, I'm having it sprayed with linex. It may keep the oil warmer than normal, so ill be installing an oil temp bung in the pan, so I can run a temp sensor in there. IF it gets too warm, I'll install another oil cooler to compensate.

So disappointing how fast these pans rust out, and then as if it wasn't enough of a PITA to install a new one you really need to get it re coated to feel like the job was done right. I really wanted the stainless option to work but will probably get an OEM one and have it re coated locally.
Old 03-08-2018, 06:54 PM
  #12  
Registered User
 
NJTman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Land of the Toxic Avenger
Posts: 6,770
Received 1,637 Likes on 1,112 Posts
Originally Posted by bradler
So disappointing how fast these pans rust out, and then as if it wasn't enough of a PITA to install a new one you really need to get it re coated to feel like the job was done right. I really wanted the stainless option to work but will probably get an OEM one and have it re coated locally.
Ferds do the same thing.

It's a conspiracy, I tell ya!


The local PC company I use not only blasts the metal, they apply a zinc primer PC, bake it, then apply top coat, giving a superb protective surface.

I'll still consider Linex ( same company ) as well
Old 03-13-2018, 04:30 PM
  #13  
Registered User
 
bradler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 704
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by jeephauler
SnoDepot stayed they have not heard of the crossmember clearance issue like mine but they have had people have to grind the axle webbing and also the front of the crossmember seam to resolve some clearance issues.

The only thing that would be causing my pan/engine to sit lower could be bad motor mounts. I have a new set here waiting to go in this weekend. If hat does not solve the issue, the pan will be going back for a refund and I’ll have to decide on OEM or Dorman replacement and possibly coating the bottom for added protection.

Any luck with the new motor mounts resolving the clearance issue?
Old 03-13-2018, 05:19 PM
  #14  
Registered User
 
Danderson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Diego
Posts: 3,443
Received 39 Likes on 31 Posts
Never heard of this issue on 2nds along with the short lived water pumps.
Mine's shedding it's coating on my '07.
Next one will get some kind of enhanced coating.
Old 03-13-2018, 09:45 PM
  #15  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
jeephauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lewisberry, PA
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Sorry for for the delayed update...I’m deep into a second gen manifold swap and flip.

Originally Posted by bradler
Any luck with the new motor mounts resolving the clearance issue?
New mounts only gained me another 1/8” so I’m sitting with around 1/4” total. The original mounts looked fine upon inspection with them removed; however, since I had done all the work and had new mounts in hand I replaced them.

After this experience I can only reccomend not going with this pan unless you want to take a chance on dealing with eaclearance issues (I’d say it’s a safe bet you will). It’s a shame because the pan is truely a work of art/craftsmanship and a few small design changes could eliminate all the issues.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Dean Snow
1st Gen. Ram - All Topics
3
01-25-2011 11:32 PM
Lyall
2nd Gen. Dodge Ram - No Drivetrain
11
08-31-2009 11:56 AM
tex23455
2nd Gen. Dodge Ram - No Drivetrain
1
07-25-2007 02:31 AM
bostongsx
12 Valve Engine and Drivetrain
6
09-25-2006 11:25 PM
ckennedy
3rd Gen Engine and Drivetrain -> 2003-2007
11
05-28-2006 04:13 AM



Quick Reply: Stainless Oil Pan clearance issues



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:15 AM.