what material to use for oil pan notch?
what material to use for oil pan notch? i will have my pan welded locally instead of shipping it off. The question is what material sould i use for the notch?
thanks
chris
thanks
chris
TECH Resident
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 841
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From: Baltimore, MD.
3-4 mm thick alloy is a good suggestion.
EXCEPT that there are about 3 million different aluminum alloys, all with different properties, including weldability.
Of the guys who have documented their pan modifications on their websites, most said they were using 6061 or 6063. I'm not sure if thats because its the best or if its because those are the most common alloys.
Ultimately I'd suggest talking to your welder. After all, he's the one who has to make it work. And if he can't answer your questions, chances are you need a different welder.
I thought I'd seen something in the GM installation manual as to the casting alloy used for the pan. However, upon further review, I don't see it. Anybody have concrete info on what alloy the pan is? Should be a 3 digit number, and may have a 2 digit heat treatment code. Examples would be 319-T5 or 356-T6 (those are popular casting alloys).
'Dreamin'
EXCEPT that there are about 3 million different aluminum alloys, all with different properties, including weldability.
Of the guys who have documented their pan modifications on their websites, most said they were using 6061 or 6063. I'm not sure if thats because its the best or if its because those are the most common alloys.
Ultimately I'd suggest talking to your welder. After all, he's the one who has to make it work. And if he can't answer your questions, chances are you need a different welder.
I thought I'd seen something in the GM installation manual as to the casting alloy used for the pan. However, upon further review, I don't see it. Anybody have concrete info on what alloy the pan is? Should be a 3 digit number, and may have a 2 digit heat treatment code. Examples would be 319-T5 or 356-T6 (those are popular casting alloys).
'Dreamin'
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TECH Resident
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 841
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From: Baltimore, MD.
Just as an FYI:
According to Will Handzel's book, the Oil Pan is cast from 356-T6 aluminum (listed in a chart on page 26).
Out of curiosity, I looked up 356-T6 in one of my engineering texts, and that alloy has a fairly high silicon content (~7 %) and 0.4 % Magnesium. In T6 heat treated condition, it should have about 38 kpsi tensile strength.
Knowing that info should help select an alloy to use for parts and pieces.
My texts show there isn't a "perfect" match in a wrought alloy (stuff you'd find in barstock form) but 6061 seems to be the closest.
'Dreamin'
According to Will Handzel's book, the Oil Pan is cast from 356-T6 aluminum (listed in a chart on page 26).
Out of curiosity, I looked up 356-T6 in one of my engineering texts, and that alloy has a fairly high silicon content (~7 %) and 0.4 % Magnesium. In T6 heat treated condition, it should have about 38 kpsi tensile strength.
Knowing that info should help select an alloy to use for parts and pieces.
My texts show there isn't a "perfect" match in a wrought alloy (stuff you'd find in barstock form) but 6061 seems to be the closest.
'Dreamin'
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