Stock Oil Pan corroded

[78K204wd]

Hi, my original 78 stock oil pan is leaking bad from flaking and corrosion.  I think the headers I put on recently are creating a lot of heat near the oil pan, making it weaker.  The Dipstick is on passenger side.


As for the replacement, do I have to get a Two Piece seal version, and does it matter if I change the dipstick from the passenger side to the driver side ?  It seems there are a lot more pans and gasket sets (w/dipstick on the driver's side) available to choose from.

Thanks, Bob

[zieg85]

Passenger side dipsticks are the newer engines.  I don't know if they even have provisions to put the dipstick on the other side of the block.  I know the 86 exhaust manifolds won't go on the older block if you want a dipstick.  I know you said you have headers which is one way to get around that problem.  I would probably first check if the oil pan gasket is the same.  My $.02

[78K204wd]

Interesting, perhaps there is a newer engine in this truck.  I don't know the full history of the truck.

Is there a way for me to determine if this engine is the newer (1 piece oil seal), or the older (2 piece oil seal) without having to pull off the oil pan?  Would like to have the new parts standing by so I can install them.

Thanks, Bob

[zieg85]

Post the numbers on the block behind the alternator

[78K204wd]

The block casting number the best I can read is 14010207

[zieg85]

All I could find is that block is a 80-85 350, could be 2 or 4 bolt main passenger side dipstick.  The numbers behind the alternator will narrow it down further...  In the same resource for newer block casting numbers it mentions the 1 piece seal so I would say yours is a 2 piece and your oil pan selection may be more.

[bake74]

     So he thought it was a 78, but it is really a 80 - 85 or so ? 

[Irish_Alley]

just a fyi 79 is the last year for the drivers side dipstick

[bake74]

just a fyi 79 is the last year for the drivers side dipstick

     Irish, does this mean that 73 - 79 350 engines, the dipsticks were all on the drivers side or ?  What about 80 up, were they all on the passenger side ?  Inquiring minds want to know.

[78K204wd]

Zieg, I thought the 2 piece seal was the older 60-79 350 engine?  If my engine is the 80-85 era block, would I still need to get t he two piece seal design?   Replacing the two piece seal is harder from what I heard. Bob

[zieg85]

All I said was that the same place I found your block casting number saying it was a 80-85 application, passenger side dipstick, other casting numbers newer had the one piece seal mentioned 86 and newer.  Without actually running the numbers behind the alternator you won't know for sure...

[bake74]

Zieg, I thought the 2 piece seal was the older 60-79 350 engine?  If my engine is the 80-85 era block, would I still need to get t he two piece seal design?   Replacing the two piece seal is harder from what I heard. Bob

     I do know that 2 piece seals were on some 73 and later 350's, what I do not know is when they stopped using them if at all.

[Irish_Alley]

i think 79 was the transition years for the dipstick. but if you look at after market dipsticks they say 65-79 was in the block
http://www.jegs.com/i/Mr-Gasket/720/6235/10002/-1?parentProductId=#moreDetails
80-85 used just the pan but it was passengers side, you can make a pre 79 passengers side with a 80-85 pan and a plug for the block.
86+ was also passengers side but in the block