RoadVettes

I'm looking at 2 small block oil pans on E-Bay, one is a 5qt. and the other says it's a 6qt. They both look exactly the same to me. Is there a visible difference between the two? Thanks.

JohnZ

Yes, there is - the 6-qt. pan has a longer sump at the front, which will interfere with either the steering stabilizer on a manual-steering car or with the power cylinder on a power steering car. "5-qt." refers to the standard pan, which has a 4-qt. refill capacity (plus a quart in the filter, for a total system capacity of 5 quarts), and the "6-qt." pan has a refill capacity of 5 quarts, for a total system capacity of 6 quarts.

Here's the "5-quart" pan (P/N 3820000):



And here's the "6-quart" pan (P/N 3820001):



Both, of course, were discontinued MANY years ago.

K2

Here is an inside and outside picture of the 6 quart pan

mrg

JohnZ provides an excellent reference source with those 5 and 6 quart oil pan pics. As you can see the 6 quart oil pan is fairly easy to identify with it's approximately 3/4 sump length when compared to the overall length of the oil pan. With both the 5 and 6 quart oil pans a real Corvette oil pan will have the oil drain plug located at the rear. I have seen a number of 5 quart oil pans on Ebay being passed off as '6 quart' .. I emailed a few of those sellers to question their Ebay listings and got answers ranging from it "looks" like the bigger pan to I "thought" it was - to no answer at all. Just have to be careful and observant so as not to get snake bit . .

John

Just saw K2's post .. Nice inside shot, K2 ..




[Modified by mrg, 5:11 PM 6/26/2004]

RoadVettes

You guys are amazing, always have the right answers and pictures too. Thanks for the replies.

There is one on E-Bay right now (item #7907111472) that is definetly a 5 qt. that is being represented as "the real deal 6qt". I went to go look at it to be sure and the 5qt. he had wasn't even the "great condition" one in the picture, it was a rusted and dented one. This is a Corvette parts and repair shop...go figure. Buyer beware.


[Modified by RoadVettes, 9:30 PM 6/26/2004]

comp

Is there a diff. other pans ? to bo be seen this easy ?
i've seen to many 5 & 6 qt. systems and i allways QQQQ if the dipstick was
correct

JohnZ

Easy quick I.D. tip - the front of the sump on the 5-qt. pan is even with the third small pan bolt hole from the front, and the front of the sump on the 6-qt. pan is even with the second small pan bolt hole from the front.

Birdball

Hey guys- do the two pans use the same oil pickup, or does the larger pan use a different one than the standard small block "dime a dozen" pan?

I just picked up a NOS (large capacity) pan at a swap meet for $15 because the guys had no idea what it was !

Matt

1COOL60

The larger pan uses a different pickup; the standard pan pickup will not work.

c1dream

All of you so called experts... HA

The answer to what is the difference between a 5 qt. and a 6 qt. is
one quart.

Sorry.

RoadVettes

kyosho

ifitgoesfast

(UPDATE: never mind, just looked, the sump on mine is at bolt #6, and drain on side. I don't know what I have, but it doesn't look anything like the ones on ebay.)

Can you repost a link to the photos of the 5 and 6 quart oil pans? I only joined the forum this year, and this thread is from 2004. The Links are old and broken. Any chance you can repost?

I'm going to the garage to see if I can count whether 2nd or 3rd small pan bolt from front to ID. Just wondering about looks. Thanks if you can.

JohnZ

See post #26 here:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-a...y-power-2.html

ifitgoesfast

Is there any difference between 1963 - 1971 6 quart pans?

btw, thanks for the photos on the other thread. I must've missed it. Looks like I currently have a 4 quart replacement with drain on side. Not sure if that's bad for the engine, but I'm gonna replace it with the 6 quart.

JohnZ

There were no 6-quart (system) pans used on Corvettes after 1965 (except on the LT-1).

burgessdg

I got a kick out of John Z's comment about challenging e-bay sellers. There was a mid 70's valve cover that the guy was calling 56, 57, 58 valve cover. Obvious it was not staggered bolt pattern and it had PCV and breather vents with an oil fill cap. I e-mailed the guy and he said he pulled it out of the trunk of a '57 Chevy. Apparently that made it from a '57. More disturbing was he claimed to sell Vette parts in his "store". Definitely let the buyer beware.

My 2 cents,
Dan