Mustang oil pans tend to be vulnerable to damage from road debris, humongous speed bumps, deep dips in the road, and careless handling by sloppy mechanics with monkey wrenches. Some gearheads use them as a jacking point. And sometimes an unfortunate fate awaits them in our travels. One acquaintance struck a semi-truck brake shoe on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, tearing the oil pan completely off his Mustang's 289, rendering the car dead in its tracks.
The torn oil pan speaks for itself. It must be replaced. But when should you replace an oil pan or leave well enough alone? Oil pick-up placement inside your oil pan is what counts most. A dented oil pan can close the gap necessary to ensure the oil pickup is getting sufficient oil flow. You want at least .060-inch between pickup and pan. If the pan is badly dented, you don't have the clearance needed for safe operation. Although oil pan replacement is considered drudgery work, it will give you peace of mind. What's more, Fel-Pro and Virginia Classic Mustang have made it easier with affordable products you can install yourself at home.
We have a badly dented 289...
We have a badly dented 289 oil pan that was carelessly used as a jacking point for the '67 Mustang. It is dented badly enough to warrant removal and replacement. The car's owner brought it in to Mustangs Etc. complaining of fluctuating engine oil pressure caused by restricted oil flow at the pickup. The pan must be replaced.
To remove the pan...
...drop both the crossmember...
...drop both the crossmember and steering linkage.
Oil pan removal is next. Gil...
Oil pan removal is next. Gil has drained the oil and is now removing all the bolts. For this 289, he's using a 7/16-inch socket on rail bolts and 1/2-inch at both ends.
A gentle whack with a mallet...
A gentle whack with a mallet busts the pan loose.
If your pan has been on there...
If your pan has been on there a while, you may have to use a putty knife to separate the pan from the engine block.
Clean-up is the roughest and...
Clean-up is the roughest and toughest part of this job. Gil uses a putty knife and wire brush to remove the old cork gasket material. All surfaces must be clean for adequate sealing.
Our reproduction oil pan from...
Our reproduction oil pan from Virginia Classic Mustang will yield a perfect fit when installed and tightened. Clad in Ford Blue, it won't have to be painted. It's always a good idea to wash out a new pan just in case there's any manufacturing debris.
We're installing our pan using...
We're installing our pan using a Fel-Pro one-piece, Perma-Dry oil pan gasket for 221/260/289/302/351W engines, PN OS-34508-R.
Although the molded Fel-Pro...
Although the molded Fel-Pro gasket costs more than a conventional cork and rubber pan gasket set, this one-piece molded pan gasket eliminates one of the main frustrations of gasket replacement. Four threaded plastic alignment pins are screwed into the four corners, which hold the gasket in place and make pan installation a cakewalk.
Position the new oil pan in...
Position the new oil pan in place on the engine block. The Fel-Pro gasket needs Permatex's The Right Stuff in corners where the pan ends meet pan rails.
Pan bolts are tightened in...
Pan bolts are tightened in a crisscross pattern. Torque to 7-9 ft-lb for 1/4-inch rail bolts and 9-11 ft-lb for end bolts. Do this gradually in third values and do not overtighten.
The Fel-Pro plastic guide...
The Fel-Pro plastic guide pins are removed and replaced by 5/16-inch pan end bolts.
For a 289, add five quarts...
For a 289, add five quarts of your favorite engine oil along with a Motorcraft FL1A filter. If you're looking for an oil for your vintage engine, try Comp Cams' new Muscle Car & Street Rod engine oil, which has zinc, phosphorus, and molybdenum additives that flat tappet cams need for reliable operation. It is available in 10W30 and 15W50 weights for a variety of applications.
If you have a favorite engine...
If you have a favorite engine oil but need the additives for older engines, try CamGuard, an anti-wear, anti-corrosion additive. Add a few ounces of CamGuard at each oil change to reduce engine wear, improve fuel economy, and eliminate corrosion. CamGuard is available from MCE Engines in Los Angeles.
Why Oil Pan Debris Is Bad
If you believe your engine's oil pickup screen will keep destructive debris out, think again. Trash from a failed timing set, hardware accidentally dropped into the pan during distributor installation, and broken valve seals can all find their way past the screen into your oil pump, which can cause serious engine damage. Debris the size of a grain of sand is what made this pump rotor seize, twisting the shaft into a barber pole in nanoseconds. While your pan is off for replacement, it's a good time to install a new pickup, pump, and shaft. Before installing the pump, remove the cover and inspect clearances and machine work.