Oil Pan Installation

JDutra

Good morning  everyone.  I decided to drop the pan in my 1952 Hornet this weekend (a good idea because of the sludge at the bottom).  I followed the Mechanical Procedures Manual by dropping the center steering bracket.  It proved a real challenge removing the pan because the bracket and tie bars do not really drop that far out of the way.  I ended up having to rotate the crank shaft a couple of times and encourage the pan out while pulling down on the steering bracket.  Installation has not fared well.  I have gotten the pan 2/3 of the way in, but it seems to continue getting stuck on the flywheel and perhaps the front is getting stuck on part of the crankshaft.  Does this simply require more coaxing by continuing to rotate the crank shaft while putting additional downward pressure on the bracket?  Any advice would be welcome. 

RL Chilton

Remove the nuts on your engine mounts and carefully jack up the engine a little.  Should give you enough clearance  to get the pan back in.  

Glowplug

The Hudson mechanical procedures manual offers the mechanic a method of oil pan removal which provided the clearance required to remove and reinstall the oil pan. Summary is: using a jack and 6, 6" long bolts to replace the bolts that hold the lower crossmember to the frame. Once all 6" bolts are installed lowering the jack brings the interference out of the way.

JDutra

Success.  Thank you guys for your assistance.  Ken, I feel like a "dipstick"--I had not removed the actual dipstick first!  Live and learn.

RL Chilton

Sometimes it's the simplest things that you don't really think about and can't seem to get your head around it.  Happens to all of us eventually.  Glad you got it worked out.