More Oil pan woes

[Tony and Nicki]

Hi guys.

I've got the engine in now, pretty much everything is done except the exhaust and the radiator. I was all ready to finish up today and start her up tomorrow when guess what? The replacement oil pan is preventing the starter for seating all the way.

On closer inspection the concord's original oil pan curved in slightly as it goes down on the starter side but the replacement (which I think is '65 to '70) goes straight down so the starter is being prevented from seating all the way by about 1/4" on the pan side.

It's the same starter, same bellhousing so I was kinda confused at first. I thought maybe I just wasn't meshing it right but I'm pretty sure it ain't gonna go in.

The only thing I can think of is some hammering but there's not a lot of room to swing unless maybe I remove the strut rod brackets. The other idea I had would be to use a bottle jack or some other kind of hydraulic tool to push the pan side in a little.

Anyone have any other suggestions? As allways, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!
tony and nicki
Tucson AZ

[IowaEagle]

Hmmmmmm, 1970.  I think the starter may have been on the driver's side then.  I think AMC switched to the passenger side in '72 when they went to the TF transmissions.  I could be wrong on that one though.

[thereverendbill]

I'd try the bottle jack with a piece of wood on the pan.  Just remember to go slow and take your time

[Tony and Nicki]

OK thanks Iowa Eagle and reverendbill,

I was thinking the bottle jack idea would work better 'cos of the restricted space. My only concern would be that the pan is pretty thick steel and might move over rather than dent and bust the pan bolts out or if the pan bolts stay put, rip the metal around them.

BTW. The reason I say it's likely to be a '65 '70 (and not '70 to '80 as advertised) is 'cos of the bolt pattern on the driver side. (I'm sure you already know this), but I discovered, to my shock and horror, that the bolt pattern is evenly spaced on the earlier pans rather than the later pan's which have two of the bolt holes closer together.

The confusing thing is that you will get the same gasket set for both styles but with a choice of gaskets for the driver side. However, as far as I know, you can't get a one piece permadry for the earlier '65 to '70 type pans which is how I deduced that they were different from the later style as regards to bolt pattern. From what I can tell and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, I discovered by cross referencing that the oil pan bolt pattern remains the same from '71 to 2006.

Cheers!
tony and nicki

[IowaEagle]

.......... you did provide us with some good information.  We all learn all the time from what we share with others, regardless of the outcome.  From what you said then, this pan would not even bolt up correctly?

[Tony and Nicki]

Thanks Iowa Eagle,

Nope it wouldn't bolt up correctly. Had to get creative there. Drilled out the three necessary holes in the pan and covered the three unnecessary original holes with spreaders which are held down by the pan bolts and some JB Weld.

Cheers!
a very tired tony and nicki

[68AMXGOPAC]

Hmmmm, just my opinion, but I would think that jacking against it or even hammering it would shift it on the gasket or at the least mess with the seal you have  now.........especially since it is freshly installed.......

[Tony and Nicki]

Thanks 68,

Yep I thought the same thing but anyway I already did it. I didn't have to hammer that much. There wasn't room for the jack. Looks to be OK so I'll have to keep my fingers crossed that I didn't screw up the seal. It was either that or pull the pan then biff it.

cheers!
tony and nicki