How low can you go - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Houston Ben · 01-29-2014, 10:49 PM

How low can you go on an LS swap without having to worry too much about hitting the oil pans?

BR3W CITY · 01-29-2014, 11:08 PM

Well I mean....that might depend on what truck you have
or
what oil pan your using
or
what mounts your using
or
really...ANYTHING?

on there is only one oil pan, unless you mean the trans oil pan, which will then depend on which trans...

Houston Ben · 01-29-2014, 11:14 PM

Guess I should have thought about that...

Special-Ed · 01-30-2014, 01:12 AM

you can go as low until it touches...

Custom 68 · 01-30-2014, 09:47 AM

I used a Camaro oil pan and dropped it low. It is just above my cross member. I tried the truck one first and it was a couple inches below the cross member and that just wouldn't work. I built my own mounts.

Houston Ben · 01-30-2014, 10:46 AM

Ya, I guess it was kind of a dumb question. I am not familiar in this area and my engineering mind was thinking everyone has the exact same problem I do.....but then again, I am not an engineer...

Anyway, thanks for the replies, it appears my trans and engine pans hang below the frame (6L80) and I am afraid I will punch a hole in them if I drop it any lower. Guess I will keep it how it is.

Thanks again all.

ls1c10 · 01-30-2014, 12:12 PM

Camaro pan with dirty dingo mounts.

Matt Cramer · 01-30-2014, 12:45 PM

Are you worried about how low you can set the engine in the chassis and oil pan to crossmember clearance, or how low you can set the suspension and oil pan to ground clearance?

Houston Ben · 01-30-2014, 01:58 PM

Matt, I am worried about how low I can set the suspension and oil pan to ground clearance. I would like mine a little lower but I am worried about the ground clearance on the oil pan. I also have the DD mounts and guess I could go with the Camaro pan.

So this brings up another question or thought... is the front cross member is the lowest point on the truck? I think I'm screwed either way as both my engine and transmission pans hang lower than my cross member.... oh well, guess I will live with how it sits.

BR3W CITY · 01-30-2014, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Houston Ben

Matt, I am worried about how low I can set the suspension and oil pan to ground clearance. I would like mine a little lower but I am worried about the ground clearance on the oil pan. I also have the DD mounts and guess I could go with the Camaro pan.

So this brings up another question or thought... is the front cross member is the lowest point on the truck? I think I'm screwed either way as both my engine and transmission pans hang lower than my cross member.... oh well, guess I will live with how it sits.

It generally is the lowest point, but the truck pan will sit below the xmember on pretty much every swap. The LH8 pan will come about even to the crossmember...mine looks like it hangs below, but having bottomed the truck out, I never hit the pan.

Once all my driveline stuff was set, my trans pan looked even with the frame, but at ride height it actually is just above it. The drivetrain should have a little bit of an angle on it, so its not actually a flat plane (*4)

This also depends on how far forward or aft its all set, because at 4*, an engine further rear TECHNICALLY sits lower, but its a very small amount.

The camaro pan has more clearance, otherwise people have used a stock pan and modded it for a little more width at the same capacity (like the old school Moroso pans )

I'm on a 66, with the 71/2 style suspension and crossmember stuff. With adapter plates, my oil pan just barely hangs below the cross. My truck is fairly low as well, I maybe have 3"-4" under the crossmember at static height.

mrhurt73 · 01-30-2014, 03:01 PM

Im using the caddy CTS-V oil pan, and my truck sits down till the body touches the ground.

i picked that pan to clear the crossmember and still not be too low.

Jonboy · 01-30-2014, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrhurt73

Im using the caddy CTS-V oil pan, and my truck sits down till the body touches the ground.

i picked that pan to clear the crossmember and still not be too low.

Me too. It tucks behind the crossmember quite nicely.

**Hart_Rod** · 01-30-2014, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrhurt73

Im using the caddy CTS-V oil pan, and my truck sits down till the body touches the ground.

i picked that pan to clear the crossmember and still not be too low.

+2 (68 C10 & 69 Burb)

mooseknuckles · 01-31-2014, 03:23 PM

I'm using the muscle car/LH8 pan, trans dapt adapter plates....the pan is about a 1/2" above the bottom of the crossmember....oh and a it's "z'd" 3"

01-29-2014, 10:49 PM	#1
Houston Ben Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 713	How low can you go How low can you go on an LS swap without having to worry too much about hitting the oil pans?

01-29-2014, 11:08 PM	#2
BR3W CITY meowMEOWmeowMEOW Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: MKE WI Posts: 7,128	Re: How low can you go Well I mean....that might depend on what truck you have or what oil pan your using or what mounts your using or really...ANYTHING? on there is only one oil pan, unless you mean the trans oil pan, which will then depend on which trans... __________________ *'66 Short Step / SD Tuned / Big Cam LQ4 / Backhalfed /Built 4l80e / #REBUILDEVERYTHING* MY BUILD THE H8RDCPTR //\\ MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL REV J HD

01-29-2014, 11:14 PM	#3
Houston Ben Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 713	Re: How low can you go Guess I should have thought about that...

01-30-2014, 01:12 AM	#4
Special-Ed Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Floriduh Posts: 386	Re: How low can you go you can go as low until it touches... __________________ Ed will be known as the Tiger Woods of the integration business

01-30-2014, 09:47 AM	#5
Custom 68 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,939	Re: How low can you go I used a Camaro oil pan and dropped it low. It is just above my cross member. I tried the truck one first and it was a couple inches below the cross member and that just wouldn't work. I built my own mounts. __________________ Dave 1968 Custom Chevy with turbo charged 5.3 gen III 4l80e swap 1967-71 GMC 3/4 ton long step 4x4 (not sure what year exactly?) "A good friend will bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "that was frekin awesome". "If it doesn't fit force it...If it breaks then it needed to be replaced anyway!"

01-30-2014, 10:46 AM	#6
Houston Ben Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 713	Re: How low can you go Ya, I guess it was kind of a dumb question. I am not familiar in this area and my engineering mind was thinking everyone has the exact same problem I do.....but then again, I am not an engineer... Anyway, thanks for the replies, it appears my trans and engine pans hang below the frame (6L80) and I am afraid I will punch a hole in them if I drop it any lower. Guess I will keep it how it is. Thanks again all.

01-30-2014, 12:12 PM	#7
ls1c10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: watsonville, ca Posts: 40	Re: How low can you go Camaro pan with dirty dingo mounts. Attached Images

01-30-2014, 12:45 PM	#8
Matt Cramer Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Covington, GA Posts: 386	Re: How low can you go Are you worried about how low you can set the engine in the chassis and oil pan to crossmember clearance, or how low you can set the suspension and oil pan to ground clearance? __________________ Matt Cramer 1972 Chevy C10 - 4.8 swap, long bed, and maybe one dent free body panel somewhere - SOLD 4.8 LS build thread

01-30-2014, 01:58 PM	#9
Houston Ben Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 713	Re: How low can you go Matt, I am worried about how low I can set the suspension and oil pan to ground clearance. I would like mine a little lower but I am worried about the ground clearance on the oil pan. I also have the DD mounts and guess I could go with the Camaro pan. So this brings up another question or thought... is the front cross member is the lowest point on the truck? I think I'm screwed either way as both my engine and transmission pans hang lower than my cross member.... oh well, guess I will live with how it sits.

01-30-2014, 03:01 PM	#11
mrhurt73 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: clifton forge, va Posts: 261	Re: How low can you go Im using the caddy CTS-V oil pan, and my truck sits down till the body touches the ground. i picked that pan to clear the crossmember and still not be too low. __________________ My Projects- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=557301 Quest for Hot Rod Power Tour 2013. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=543735 my 85 GMC 2wd to 4wd conversion for the wife.

01-31-2014, 03:23 PM	#14
mooseknuckles Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: ottawa,canada Posts: 4,550	Re: How low can you go I'm using the muscle car/LH8 pan, trans dapt adapter plates....the pan is about a 1/2" above the bottom of the crossmember....oh and a it's "z'd" 3" Attached Images __________________ my build threads '86 C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415628 '67 C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=635078 '63 GMC http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=674682



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