fastd

My dad came to me with a problem with his 1977. The last I heard the motor run, it was very strong. But now there is a bad noise, (let's see if I can describe this without sounding like an idiot) kind of like"clump, clump, clump".
He says he thinks he hit a chuckhole and bent the oilpan. Maybe the crank is hitting it.
So he's trying to take off the oilpan and he can't seem to get it out with the frame and suspension in the way.
I would appreciate any advice before my dad ruins a good vette.
:confused: :withstupid: :grouphug: :beatdeadhorse:

Gordonm

He should be able to take the idler arm off the frame and lower the steering linkage. This will give enough room to remove the oil pan unless he hit the frame and bent it.

fastd

I haven't seen it since we live so far away. From what he tells me it sounds like he might have bent more than the oilpan.
I will visit him in a few weeks, I hope to have some good advice by then for him.

Captain Morgan

I also agree. Shouldn't be any problem to remove the oil pan if he just drops the idler arm (on passenger side frame). This will allow the steering assembly to drop down and then he should be able to remove the pan.

VietNam_Vette

Does the noise increase if he revs the engine up? It seems to me like it would almost be a constant noise. At 600 rpm, the crank would hit the oil pan 10 (Or 20...I'm not sure ) times a second, so there would be almost no noticable lapse between the "clunks".