Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

oil pan- is this a problem?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 27, 2011 | 09:21 PM
  #1  
lawdog49's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: AL
Default oil pan- is this a problem?

just got this oil pan, has a small chunk broken out of this hole that appears that it should be blocked off. i don't know what the purpose is for these two holes and why one (the one that has a chunk missing) should be blocked.

what to do? is this junk that i need a refund for?

[IMG][/IMG]

Reply
Old Dec 28, 2011 | 04:53 AM
  #2  
DaddySS's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,907
Likes: 1
From: Bergen County, NJ
Default

Haven't looked closely at the pan in that area, the other side of that holds the filter yes? Can you get a picture of the other side, may help?
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2011 | 07:35 AM
  #3  
lawdog49's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: AL
Default

yes, filter on other side. this hole was obviously cast with a bottom in it- so assuming it needs to be blocked off
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2011 | 07:43 AM
  #4  
bww3588's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (49)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,139
Likes: 10
From: Chillicothe/Lima, Ohio
Default

I wouldn't block it off if you want oil to get to your filter.
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2011 | 06:24 PM
  #5  
lawdog49's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: AL
Default

well i am sure GM didn't design this to look like it has been broken. anybody got any help with this??
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2011 | 06:55 PM
  #6  
bww3588's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (49)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,139
Likes: 10
From: Chillicothe/Lima, Ohio
Default

Yes they did. That's exactly how mine looks and the 2 other ones I have on the shelf. If you block that off you will get no oil to your filter.
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2011 | 07:16 PM
  #7  
bww3588's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (49)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,139
Likes: 10
From: Chillicothe/Lima, Ohio
Default



see?
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2011 | 07:19 PM
  #8  
bww3588's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (49)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,139
Likes: 10
From: Chillicothe/Lima, Ohio
Default

it was cast with a bottom in it, but it was drilled out during final machining. its typical machining and casting flaws, the entire engine is littered with them. if it bothers you that much, get in there with a dremel or something and clean it up. but do NOT block it off.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Dec 28, 2011 | 07:26 PM
  #9  
CashDudeHomie's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,907
Likes: 0
Default

Not a problem. The oil flows through those two holes and also through that hump between the two bolts in the oil-cooler block off plate as it goes to and from the oil filter.
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2011 | 01:41 AM
  #10  
lawdog49's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: AL
Default

bww, i owe ya. it sure looks like somebody knocked out part of that aluminum!! why not just drill out the whole thing in the casting/machining process???? crazy. but i really appreciate the help!! glad to know it is normal and not busted.
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2011 | 07:29 AM
  #11  
Mike454SS's Avatar
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
Photogenic
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 9
From: South Windsor, CT
Default

Originally Posted by lawdog49
bww, i owe ya. it sure looks like somebody knocked out part of that aluminum!! why not just drill out the whole thing in the casting/machining process???? crazy. but i really appreciate the help!! glad to know it is normal and not busted.
It's all about time...the hole and casting are good enough to function correctly...seconds of time in the CNC machine, when making hundreds of thousands of oil pans, is a HUGE deal...plus, drilling further and further into a side exiting cavity like that wears the cutting tools faster and faster...which means more cutter replacements, and potentially more down time (if the operator of the CNC machine isn't able to change the tool while the machine is running), and that all translates back to lost $$$$$$$.

A lot of the time, an engine builder looking for every last bit of HP, will take a die grinder and other tools similar to what they'd use on cylinder head ports, and port everything where anything flows, oil/coolant/air/fuel...anything that the engine needs to pump, is a parasitic loss...anything that can help it pump it easier, is essentially more efficiency/horsepower.

GM most likely knows that the gain would be minuscule, so the part is good enough for a production vehicle...when you're looking for every last individual horsepower on an all out NA build though...you don't care how minuscule a gain is...a gain is still a gain.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:14 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE