4 quarts,is this a suitable oil pan, for 450-500 hp.on the street?

Grumpy · Aug 13, 2017

https://www.opgi.com/el-camino/1969/engine s-compon...

4 quarts,is this a suitable oil pan, for 450-500 hp.on the street?
1964-77 El Camino Oil Pan, Big-Block Generation V & VI

On oil pans I prefer studs, and an oil pan back plate

you might want to Use with P/N 12553058 RH and P/N 12553059 LH oil pan reinforcement plates to distribute the bolt stress on the oil pan rail for 1985 and earlier oil pans P/N 14088501 (LH) and P/N 14088502 (RH).1986 and newer
Id say its a VERY bad idea personally , if you shop carefully you can find a reasonably priced 6- 7 quart oil pan that should help engine durability.
SHOP CAREFULLY ,
WHEN YOU GO TO BUY AN OIL PAN for your engine or transmission,
<AND ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WILL FIT YOUR CAR CORRECTLY,
AND ASK FOR SUGGESTIONS ON MATCHING COMPONENTS OR PARTS THAT WON,T FIT
many guys ignore proven combos, because it may cost more than they want to spend, and either insist on using components they own currently or think they can buy far less expensively than the components, I know from experience will actually work.

MILODON,
http://www.milodon.com/

CHAMP
http://www.champpans.com/products/c/oil-pans/

CANTON,
https://www.cantonracingproducts.com/category/1501/Chevy-SS--Road-Race-Oil-Pans/1.html

MOROSO
http://www.moroso.com/
http://www.shopmoroso.com/eb/catalog/navigationPath/1::Moroso Performance Products/1100001::Oil Pans/11005::Chevy Big Block, Gen VGen VI?resetOffset=true&entryId=catalog.productgroup.1110000111005&expand=true&menuId=main.menu

AVIAID
http://aviaid.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/ws_oilpns_sbc.html

STEFS
http://www.stefs.com/products/oilpans/circletrackwetsump.htm

HAMBURGERPERFORMANCE
http://www.hamburgersperformance.com/

KEVKO
https://kevko.myshopify.com/

IF you've wondered why I suggest buying and using a well designed BAFFLED oil pan with 7-8 quart capacity its to prevent the oil from uncovering the oil pump pick-up under performance use.
without control baffles oil sloshes away from the oil pump pick-up

obviously you,ll want to ask specific questions as to the ,
ground clearance, starters that can be used,
oil filters, oil dip stick, location,
oil pan gasket matching both pan and lock used.
rear oil seal type,and frame and suspension clearance issues,
related to your car, before you purchase any oil pan

I think the hamburger oil pan is a better value At $242
notice the better oil control features
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ham-1088/overview/

Mark Bradley · Aug 13, 2017

I agree with Grumpy although it comes down to oil pressure and cooling capacity.
"This is just shop talk and should be balanced against rationality".
As long as your oil pressure is 10lb for every 1000 rpm at idle (6k redline needs 60+psi at idle) and you don't cavitate then you may be able to run a small pan although you said "For the street".
The real details are in all the links Grumpy gives you... read them and save yourself a ton of money and headaches.
With that small of a capacity it will either cavitate (suck air) because the oil is up in the motor and not returning back to the pan fast enough or the small volume of oil will exceed the safe operating temperature for oil and prematurely break down.
My daily driver is running a Moroso 7qt pan and an externally mounted filter giving me 9qts total. I also run an oil temp sensor in the pan and my oil temp has NEVER exceeds 210. I idle hot at 65psi and I pull 6000 RPM.
I'm not saying you need the extreme that I have but it has provided me great piece of mind and long trips don't make me cringe.

Grumpy · Aug 13, 2017

yeah! its amazing how many people will spend $1400 on a cam and lifters,
$4000 on heads,and rockers, and close to $1200 on a carb and intake ,and maybe $900-too-$1500 on the exhaust system
without blinking, or a seconds thought,
but then they ignore the lower end and lube system almost completely ,
and then they expect the stock pass car components too work, flawlessly for years,
while they constantly beat on the engine , and spin it too, at 6500 rpm or higher,
and then they act startled and shocked when they throw a connecting rod or burn a bearing.

Mark Bradley · Aug 13, 2017

Yup. Learning that first hand and not taking the advise of the "old guys" can be very expensive on the wallet and terminal on the marriage.

Strictly Attitude · Aug 14, 2017

Oiling system is the heart of an engine and should be treated as such same as putting 8000 into an engine the slapping in a $15 oil pump

Mark Bradley · Aug 14, 2017

I was thinking about the fundamentals of this... it comes down to managing heat. Bad bearing clearances cause friction resulting in excessive localized heat and if the heat is not managed bearing failure is the result. We talk so much about this stuff but it all comes down to managing heat so if you want to save a few bucks on the project don't skimp on heat management... skip painting something or skip chrome somewhere.

Grumpy · Aug 14, 2017

yes controling heat is a very significant issue but,
maintaining a pressurized hydraulic film of lubricating oil between the moving surfaces is critical, for durability.
honestly the engines lube system is critical to long term durability, and you really can,t reasonably expect an engine to last if you don,t maintain consistent cooling and lubrication.

yes controlling engine and lubrication oil heat is a very significant issue but,
maintaining a pressurized hydraulic film of lubricating oil between the moving surfaces is critical, for durability.your valve springs won,t last 20 minutes without some cooling oil flow to prevent them from over heating and I can,t believe how many people actually believe a crank shaft journal actually rides directly on the bearing surface , without that pressurized film of oil separating the two moving surfaces the bearings are going to be trashed in minutes

RELATED INFO YOU MIGHT WANT TOO READ CAREFULLY

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/oil-system-mods-that-help.2187/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/basic-info-on-your-v8-lube-system.52/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/bearings-and-oil-flow.150/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/oil-accumulator.1280/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...te-filter-require-a-new-pump.3144/#post-62980

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...l-cooler-increases-durability.176/#post-48374

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...y-in-building-a-good-engine.11682/#post-54682

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=3536&p=9372#p9372

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...g-up-oil-feed-holes-in-bearings-shells.10750/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ng-clearances-engine-builders-magazine.11965/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/valve-spring-cooling-via-engine-oil.6491/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...oil-passages-and-improved-oil-flow-mods.3834/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...m-sure-your-convinced-its-the-oil-pump.11085/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/reducing-friction-and-pumping-losses.8966/

4 quarts,is this a suitable oil pan, for 450-500 hp.on the street?

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.

Mark Bradley

Da guy in Newbury

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.

Mark Bradley

Da guy in Newbury

Strictly Attitude

solid fixture here in the forum

Mark Bradley

Da guy in Newbury

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.