I am trying to find parts for an engine build so that I can just R & R the engine, and I am having difficulty finding anyone who lists oil pans for the Y-block, much less for a '55 T-bird.  Any help would be appreciated.  I would prefer a pan that has deeper rear sump, and possibly baffles, etc.  Joe-JDC

JDC

Best I know, you have to find an original one. I've seen some examples of people modifying pans for various reasons, including baffles, but I've never seen an aftermarket one.

You can build the motors and run them in with truck pans and side (pass car) motor mounts. But then you have to transfer the balancer, water pump spacer, etc. I've just gotten the new motor assembled, pulled the old one, transferred the 'bird parts, and gone from there.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Joe,
On my supercharged sedan with the front sump pan I could easily launch hard enough to uncover the oil pick-up and the pressure would drop for a bit when launching.  I also had a bad issue of oil pressure drop when really slowing down fast.

I had Donald Hardy JR of Don Hardy Race Cars(Bob Glidden's chassis builder back in the day) reshape my pick-up and add some simple baffles.   It really fixed my problems.  He ended up using an cut down and reshaped original pick-up and two shaped baffles.   I have photos of them I can email you.

When I added the 1/2" steel main girdle that sandwiched between the oil pan and the block, I picked up a 1/2" of oil level which came out to be about an additional quart of oil capacity.  

I realize the T-Bird is rear sump, so that would seem to be an advantage but the original T-Bird rear sump is pretty large, so oil control could still be a major problem.   I think with the right baffles you might not need a heavily reshaped pan.

One thing that has really helped me watch oil pressure was a tip from Jerry Christianson about using an Autometer oil pressure sender(goes off at 17psi)  hooked to my original oil pressure idiot light with a brighter bulb in the dash.   I can't always watch the pressure gauge during a launch, but if that dash light flickers, I notice that.

I might give you a call tomorrow. We just got back from our family trip and I have a few ideas I'd like to run by you on your build.
Pat


Pat Fleischman

Hi Joe,
When I needed oil pans for my Gasser and dragster I put a call in to Canton Oil pans. I sent them a old oil pan and drawings of what I wanted. They used my old pan for the pan rails and built me new pans with deeper pan and baffles.
Just need to do a drawing will how deep you want it and where you want the oil line coming out on the pan.
Hope this helps, they did an excellent job.
Larry Short   

Joe,

I can't remember if I sent them a old pickup or not ? They did send a new pickup with the pans. If you call them make sure you talk to them about everything you want and see what they say. I think they told me they keep my drawings on file.

Larry Short   

Joe.  To the best of my knowledge, there are no off the shelf aftermarket oil pans for the Y family of engines.  As mentioned, Canton will modify stock pans into almost anything you need though.  My recommendation for the oil pickup is to have a #12 male bung on the outside of the pan with a detachable oil pickup within the pan.  The oil pump can then be threaded for another #12 male bung and then an appropriate length of #12 hose and female fittings can be used to connect the pickup to the oil pump.
 
Here are a couple of pics of a truck pan modified so it fits an early ‘Bird.  This is not a Canton pan.
 
 

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Thanks, everyone, I have found one for sale, and in the process of making payment.  Joe-JDC

JDC