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Alloy Oil Pan from Moss

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We have an alloy pan on our 100 LeMans vintage racer from D. Welch. IT is of very good quality (looks the same as the Moss one), it is supposed to strenghten the block which I am not at all sure about, but it does not hang below the frame rails. I would say to crack it you would have to really hit something big at a good speed.
 
Almost every Healey I have ever seen (99% street driven) have had dented steel oil pans. I used to work as a mechanic at Austin-Healey West back in the 70s when Healeys were still routinely driven as daily drivers, and I saw a lot of them.

Personally, I'd be reluctant to install an aluminum sump without some type of steel shield to protect it, given any sort of normal use.

For an engine on a show stand, or a car that's rarely driven; why not!?
 
I think the alloy oil pan is a complete waste of money. First, its expensive. You can take any old dented factory oil pan and bump out the metal, weld up any holes and make it look quite nice - for a lot less money. Secondly, its heavy. Who needs any extra weight to make your Healey perform better. Thirdly, it DOES hang down below the frame rails so it WILL get banged just like the stock steel oil pan. I suspect that the steel pan will dent. What will the cast aluminum pan do .... crack? Fourth, do you really think that a cast aluminum oil pan is going to "strengthen" that massive cast iron block that is our Healey engine? Anyone ever heard of an Austin Healey block needing reinforcement? Apparently, only the people selling this oil pan. And finally, my last reason, if this was a truly a performance oil pan, why are there no baffles, gates, trap doors, or any other devise that keeps the oil where it should be when driving in anger?
 
BoyRacer said:
I think the alloy oil pan is a complete waste of money. First, its expensive. You can take any old dented factory oil pan and bump out the metal, weld up any holes and make it look quite nice - for a lot less money. Secondly, its heavy. Who needs any extra weight to make your Healey perform better. Thirdly, it DOES hang down below the frame rails so it WILL get banged just like the stock steel oil pan. I suspect that the steel pan will dent. What will the cast aluminum pan do .... crack? Fourth, do you really think that a cast aluminum oil pan is going to "strengthen" that massive cast iron block that is our Healey engine? Anyone ever heard of an Austin Healey block needing reinforcement? Apparently, only the people selling this oil pan. And finally, my last reason, if this was a truly a performance oil pan, why are there no baffles, gates, trap doors, or any other devise that keeps the oil where it should be when driving in anger?
Click to expand...
And the verdict is.....they're great for trailer queens.
 
I agree wholeheartedly. I learned an expensive lesson years ago with a small block chevy alloy pan. They are fine on a clean race track but out in the cruel real world you want malleable steel. Check your original pan. If there are dents and grazes now...
 
What is the intent? I looked at them as a replacement for a bashed up stock pan but the overall cost drove me away.

I ended up sending my original to the shop that is doing the restoration and had them fix it. I figured I could mess with it for a day plus and only get it so good, while a pro that does metal work every day could mint it out in short order. He spent 2 hours on it ($80) and it looks almost new.

Just a thought.
 
$40/hr bodyshop labor? That is a heck of a deal if they do efficient and quality work.
 
Sorry, I shouldn't have said that, it's special pricing given a bunch of factors on this project...their normal rate is $54/hr.

Efficient and top notch, you should see what the guy did with the aluminum surrounds! Quite literally brought back from the dead and all metal.
 
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