You might consider getting yourself one of these nice HD engine cross members from Off-Road Design.
http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog...rossmember.htm
ORD cross member with my old 7.4L. You can even see the little wear mark where the original cross member got pretty friendly with the oil pan.
ORD cross member with the 8.1L and the 8.1L oil pan is huge!
