Stupid!,Stupid!, Stupid!

[blown motor]

Wow, those aren't much money!

[soundcontrol]

I have a small USB cam, hooks up to my computer with USB, I even seen them for phones, I paid just 30 bucks for it, that would fit in the oil plug hole to inspect. Is it possible to maybe combine a suction cup and put a rod of some kind in the oil plug hole and push/pull out the dent? Just thinking outside the box here....
My son uses a suction cup for a videocamera, this one has an level that you push and it is pretty impossible to pull it off without pulling the level back to release the vacuum. I also seen suction cups for big heavy glass panels.

[Timbbuc2]

If you work on anything sooner or later there will be accidents, not really stupid, just a accident. This would be a great thread for all of us to post regardless of what it was. I sure could post several things. It seems bad at the time but once its fixed on to better times. 

[Brads70]

I have one I paid like $10 bucks for, hooks to my phone . It works ok. It even came with a snap on lens so you can see 90degs.  I can see if you get any oil on it that would render it useless until its cleaned off. Problem with all these is once you get it in a hole you can't bend/position it to see what you want to see. They are better than nothing though.

[usraptor]

Do you have a photo of your windage tray?  Not sure what pan you are talking about that has them built in?  Originally they had metal ones with 2 gaskets (Pan,gasket,tray,gasket).  Like this:

[ebay]272471317497[/ebay]

Cody, my oil pan has a built in windage tray.  Are you saying to use this also?

Okay took the engine back out and took off the oil pan.  I tried to removed the steering linkage to do it while it was in the car, but couldn't get any of the links undone without using a pickle fork. Since I have new tie rod ends, etc. I didn't want to damage the rubber bushings/dust covers.  Anyway, four bolts for the K-frame and trans mount and it was out since I hadn't connected any of the wiring/hoses/etc. yet.  I sure love having my own lift!

Anyway, the oil pick up tube doesn't look damaged so I guess I escaped a bullet on that one.  One positive thing about doing this, was that the engine still had the break in oil in it and I got to inspect the bottom of the oil pan for any metal flakes/shavings and there were none whatsoever. 

Cody, you were correct.  That is the type of windage tray I have.  I was thinking of the baffle (for lack of better words) in the oil pan itself.  So with this new windage tray you showed pictures of,  I don't have to use gaskets or gasket cement and it's re-usable?

While I've got the oil pan off I might as well ask this question.  It made be hard to tell by the pictures but the bottom of the oil pickup tube is cocked slightly, not level with the bottom of the pan/engine.  It been like from the start.  I had good oil pressure during the engine break in.  I haven't driven the car yet so I don't know if this will effect oil pressure while the car is in motion.  So my question is do I need to straighten this or is it okay as is?  And if I do need to straighten it how do I do it.  Put a set of vise grips on the filter area and twist or bend the tube?

[Cuda Cody]

Yes, with the new style of windage tray you do not use any sealant at all and you can reuse over and over if you ever have to remove the oil pain again. 

As for bending the pick up tube, I would check with your engine builder and see what he says.  I like them to be about 3/8" off the bottom.  And I have bent them to get them lined up right.  But double check with your machine shop.  I'm guessing they will say to Carefully bend it.   

Do you have a photo of your windage tray?  Not sure what pan you are talking about that has them built in?  Originally they had metal ones with 2 gaskets (Pan,gasket,tray,gasket).  Like this:

[ebay]272471317497[/ebay]

Cody, my oil pan has a built in windage tray.  Are you saying to use this also?

Cody, you were correct.  That is the type of windage tray I have.  I was thinking of the baffle (for lack of better words) in the oil pan itself.  So with this new windage tray you showed pictures of,  I don't have to use gaskets or gasket cement and it's re-usable?

While I've got the oil pan off I might as well ask this question.  It made be hard to tell by the pictures but the bottom of the oil pickup tube is cocked slightly, not level with the bottom of the pan/engine.  It been like from the start.  I had good oil pressure during the engine break in.  I haven't driven the car yet so I don't know if this will effect oil pressure while the car is in motion.  So my question is do I need to straighten this or is it okay as is?  And if I do need to straighten it how do I do it.  Put a set of vise grips on the filter area and twist or bend the tube?

[usraptor]

Thanks Cody   

[usraptor]

First off let's think about how cool it is to be putting your engine back in your car!!!!!     Great day!      So what big deal you got a dent in your oil pan.  It will make a little fun story about the car when you're cruising to get a burger on warn summer day.  You'll be like "silliest thing happen to me when putting the engine in this car.     It fell off the dolly and put a dent in the oil pan.  Had to pull the pan and make sure the pick up was okay.  Double checked it and everything was fine."

On a side note, I love using these for oil pan gaskets.  They are pretty much the same that all new cars use and it's soooooo nice being able to remove the oil pan and not have to scrape sealant.  And you can reuse them over and over.

http://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS-Performance-Products/JEGS-Big-Block-Mopar-Windage-Trays/1660861/10002/-1

Just ordered it along with a new oil pan from 440 Source.  Thanks again for all the help and advice.  It's much appreciated.

Get the one for the stroker (4.15") even if you are stock.  I have 2 or 3 normal 3.75" stock stroke ones sitting on a shelf because they never clear a stock 3.75 engine.  I forget each time and order the wrong one. 

Now take a deep breathe and relax tonight.   

[soundcontrol]

Yes, that oil pickup look to have way too much of an angle. I just adjusted mine on my 6.1 Hemi (had to cut and weld it) and when I asked Bouchillion where I got the parts they said about 1/8" from bottom of oil pan, and parallel.

Quote from Bouchillion:
"ALL OIL PICKUPS, should be adjusted so there is 1/8" clearance from the bottom of the pan and the bottom of the pickup"

[usraptor]

Okay, first of all thanks for all the positive encouragement.  Got back at it today and I tried turning my oil pick up with several different wrenches and it wasn't having any of it.  It wasn't going to budge.  Since it was that way for over 100 thousand miles and it worked fine for me during engine break in, I just left it rather than try and bend the pipe, etc.
Anyway, installed the new oil pan and windage tray that Cody recommended that I got from Jegs.  Nice not to have to use any gasket cement.  Put the engine back on the K-Frame and with the help of my wife (she worked the lift and handed me tools when I was under the car)  got the engine and trans reinstalled.   
Tomorrow I re-install the torsion bars and steering column.   

[Cuda Cody]

Right on man!!!!   That's what I like to hear.  Looking forward to more 

[71GranCoupe]

Fantastic!!  Good to here all is going your way and get us some pictures when you get it back to square one. 

[RUNCHARGER]

Good to hear. Going ahead again.

[HP_Cuda]

Keep it up, you are on your way.

Glad to hear your wife helps you, mine needs to be "begged" to help me.

[usraptor]

Sanded and painted the torsion bars today.  Again, with my wife's help installed and aligned the steering column.  Adjusted and hooked up the trans linkage and Z bar linkage and lot of other small stuff that needed to be done. Ordered some parts for the Z bar linkage that didn't come with the rebuild kit???  The radiator developed a small leak at the lower hose fitting so I removed it and will take it in to the radiator shop to have it soldered.  Also, did a bunch of misc stuff that needed doing.  Got a text from my body man that we might be able to get the car in to the shop on Monday for final paint work so today I'll be gathering up all the small parts that will also need to be painted along with the larger body panels.  It's been three years since we did the initial paint work so I'm super excited to finally get the paint work finished.