Oil Pan Clearance :(

[NewStangOwnr]

So I finally got my 352 stroker running, fired up first time, but I got it outside and was listening and there is a tapping noise from the engine, not the lifters but lower.
I was listening near the pan, then felt it, it is vibrating like crazy. I think the crank/rods is barely hitting the pan.
I was thinking just pull it and hammer it down or something.

Any ideas, I want to drive the beast!

 

[CraigMBA]

If you go out and stomp it and it breaks in a big way, would that be an acceptable outcome?

Because short of that, if it were me, I'd be pulling that bad boy down and figure out what you got wrong on your bottom end before you can take the rest of the engine home in a bucket.

 

[NewStangOwnr]

If you go out and stomp it and it breaks in a big way, would that be an acceptable outcome?

Because short of that, if it were me, I'd be pulling that bad boy down and figure out what you got wrong on your bottom end before you can take the rest of the engine home in a bucket.

Thing is, I got it built by a reputable shop, and I checked up on everything along the way and it looked great, So I don't know...

I hope to god that it isn't anything bigger than the pan, I've spent too much money and time with no car for this to **** up.

 

[CraigMBA]

Oh trust me, it's bigger than the pan.

The pan doesn't get close enough to anything rotating to come in contact with it.

I'd be pulling the pan and taking a peek if it were me. If somebody else built the engine, I'd call them first before I took it apart.

 

[hhead]

x2

 

[NewStangOwnr]

Okay, that's really odd. I primed it as much as possible, what could have happened?
I'll pull it tomorrow and take a look.

 

[hhead]

Is it vibrating bad or hitting the pan?
If you're lucky, it might just be the wrong balancer.

 

[NewStangOwnr]

Well I have to take another look at it tomorrow, but everything was balanced so i don't know.

It has a 3.4 stroke so I honestly think it is just really close to the pan. I looked at the stock pan on summit and it said it wasn't clear for a stroker, but I looked at another pan and it said that it was, So I will pull the pan and take a look, and probably get a new pan.

Now that I think of it my balancer might not be on all the way.. I have to double check that too.

 

[NewStangOwnr]

You guys will be happy to know, (at least I am) one of the 4th/8th connecting rod bolts (ARP WaveLoc) was rubbing on the pan and making a nice little divet and scratch.

I'm just going to get a double sump style oil pan, sounds good?

 

[CraigMBA]

No. Call your builder first. You need to figure out what pans they've used in the past that clear before you order a new one.

Double sump on a vintage car?

 

[NewStangOwnr]

No. Call your builder first. You need to figure out what pans they've used in the past that clear before you order a new one.

Double sump on a vintage car?

Alright I'll double check with them.

Well is it a true double sump?.. it has a small sump in the back. Looks like this:

Why not?

 

[mrmustangman357]

hammer clearance it. ball-peen hammer

 

[65ShelbyClone]

Well is it a true double sump?.. it has a small sump in the back. Looks like this:

Why not?

Eh, that's a Fox body/SN95 pan....for a '79-95 Mustang. With that one pictured, the big sump is actually the rear of the pan.

 

[NewStangOwnr]

Right, well I mean something like that you know, with room in the back.
I'm going to hammer my stock pan for now and see how that works.

 

[D.Hearne]

If you've got a main girdle, none of the stock pans will clear it. The so called "stroker clearanced" pans are slightly deeper and have a kicked out rear wall to clear a main girdle. You can beat all you want on the stock pan, all you'll do is end up with a leaking pan from deformed rails and end radius's. I went thru all this with my 331 stroker when I went to install it in my 77 Comet. Milodon and Moroso both make the right pan, along with some sold on ebay (where I bought mine) And like 65ShelbyClone already said, that dual sump fox body pan won't fit your car.

 

[LMan]

If you are trying to put a double-sump pan in a vintage Mustang (I dont know what car you have, cant tell from your OP), or dont know that the 'deep' end goes in the rear, you have serious issues to address beyond a tapping noise.

what pickup are you using?

I wouldnt do another thing until I got with a knowledgable person and sorted this all out.

 

[NewStangOwnr]

If you are trying to put a double-sump pan in a vintage Mustang (I dont know what car you have, cant tell from your OP), or dont know that the 'deep' end goes in the rear, you have serious issues to address beyond a tapping noise.

what pickup are you using?

I wouldnt do another thing until I got with a knowledgable person and sorted this all out.

I understand what is going on.. I know the deep end goes in the rear, I meant something similar to that.

 

[mrmustangman357]

+1 for asking the builder. the should have checked clearances

 

[NewStangOwnr]

Very true. Either way I massaged it and no more hitting. Now I need to adjust valves one more time and do timing and drive it.

 

[biggyfan1]

i have a 347 and used the stock pan from the old 289 and i dont have an issue!