How to keep the oil pan out of harms way.

[bigredguy]

I have a M20B27 and although the oil pan sits relatively high compared to the 4 cylinder and the swapped pans, it has really started to become a hassle and something I need to change soon. My oil pan is 2-3 fingers off of the ground, and knock on wood I have yet to crack it, however I hit it very often and there are deep chunks out of the bottom and the bump to seal a gasket against is gone and I have changed the drain plug 2-3 times in my last few oil changes from hitting.

I have thought about raising the engine, but that is difficult because I do not have a engine hoist that is accessible. But before I automatically cross this option off of the list, I want to know more information about the engine raise. I have heard it causes several drive shaft and drive shaft bearing problems, but some people say its harmless. Also I have heard that it causes shaking and vibrating in the car. This would be a decent method to raise the pan up a little, but I would need some solid evidence that this is a safe method.

The only other method I can personally think of would be a skid plate. I have looked all over at every brand and nobody makes a low profile skid plate. Like I said I am already 2-3 fingers from the ground with my pan and I want the plate to sit as close to the pan as possible without still being able to crack the pan. For this reason I have decided I will probably go with a custom pan. I have yet to even get specs (if anyone has any that would help alot), but it is just something that has been on the to do list for quite a while now.

As far as a custom skid plate there are a couple questions that I have. First off steel or aluminum? Steel would personally be easier because of the sole fact of welding. Plus Steel is much stronger and the weight is not much of an issue. Also what thickness material and how far away from the pan is a safe distance. This is the main reason I want to custom fab one, so I can still retain as much ground clearance as possible.

Now here is what I was thinking for a skid plate. I thought 3/8 inch steel, with another 3/8-1/2 inch between the oil pan and skid plate. Any opinions on this? This material that will not move when hit, so I can keep the plate closer to the oil pan. That is my thought on it, but I have never dealt with skid plates before, so I do not know if this is a good option at all.

That brings me to why I am posting here. I am looking for opinions/ facts about the engine raise, and any information about a low profile skid plate, as well as some suggestions of a skid plate that would work well. Thanks

[E30_fiend]

Rather than worrying about making a custom plate, just get a plate that's already on the market and focus on your suspension setup.

What suspension are you on? Wheel setup?


Taylor

[Danny]

Have you thought about raising your car?

[bigredguy]

Rather than worrying about making a custom plate, just get a plate that's already on the market and focus on your suspension setup.

What suspension are you on? Wheel setup?

Taylor

It was originally on JOM coilovers, but with new shocks and different springs all the way around, so really only the JOM collars. The wheels are 15x8.5 et7 and 15x9.5 et-5. The rear sits absolutely perfect with the early model rear arches, and the front still has a tiny bit of wheel gap, so raising the car really isnt something I would want to do. I thought about 16s for a long time but I think 15s look much better on the e30s. Which is why I mainly was looking about making a custom skid plate. I will be at school and without a job for a month, so I have way too much free time on my hands, so the fabricating will not be the problem, it is more so some input on specs and how thick of metal and how much is the smallest amount of space between the pan and the skid plate.

Have you thought about raising your car?

No, that would kind of solve my oil pan problem, but I do love the way it sits and the fitment, which is why I was asking for a way to resolve the issue without raising the car. I know there are some people on here that are as low or lower than me static, but am unaware if they are using a skid plate. E30SPDFRK is one of them, and RSGM is bagged but is still low. Point being I am not looking to adjust my suspension, I am looking for a secondary alternative to that. Thanks

[jlevie]

If the car is that low, you need to seriously consider raising it. You could make up a beefy skid plate, but that is going to reduce clearance and make it even more likely to hit. A beefy skid plate would protect the pan, but then the radiator core support and front cross member could be damaged.

[E30_fiend]

Just run a plate that's already made by a company. You will only lose about 3/4" of height to the ground.

With the measurements you tossed out, you would be further down than that I'm sure. 3/8" + 3/8" is 3/4" and that's if you get it perfect. I'd say you will be even less ground clearance with the custom plate. Remember that the thicker plate will save your plate but because its heavier plate, it will tranfer the hit to your front core support or your subframe, or both. Personally, I would rather smash a pan that bend my core support or subframe. A pan is easy enough to replace. Yeah it sucks but its much easier than replacing a core support or subframe.

Just something to think about.

RaceSkids and Sump Armour plates are both good choices on the market.


Taylor

[E30_fiend]

Dammit Jim lol. Beat me to it while I was typing.

[Danny]

E30spdfrk had an m60 in his car. Which has a steel oil pan that sits higher than the subframe.

[bigredguy]

If the car is that low, you need to seriously consider raising it. You could make up a beefy skid plate, but that is going to reduce clearance and make it even more likely to hit. A beefy skid plate would protect the pan, but then the radiator core support and front cross member could be damaged.

That is definitely a good point that I did neglect to think about. Which may lead me to further looking into the engine raise. Anyone have any input on that?

Just run a plate that's already made by a company. You will only lose about 3/4" of height to the ground.

With the measurements you tossed out, you would be further down than that I'm sure. 3/8" + 3/8" is 3/4" and that's if you get it perfect. I'd say you will be even less ground clearance with the custom plate. Remember that the thicker plate will save your plate but because its heavier plate, it will tranfer the hit to your front core support or your subframe, or both. Personally, I would rather smash a pan that bend my core support or subframe. A pan is easy enough to replace. Yeah it sucks but its much easier than replacing a core support or subframe.

Just something to think about.

RaceSkids and Sump Armour plates are both good choices on the market.

Taylor

Is that really all those skids are from the pan? The few decent pictures i found of those plates looked like they were well over an inch from the pan plus about a 1/4 inch of metal.

E30spdfrk had an m60 in his car. Which has a steel oil pan that sits higher than the subframe.

I know his car had the m60, but I thought he took it out due to problems or something. Just something I may have read in a build thread or something, but this was definitely a while ago.

As far as the steel pan thing, didnt the m20s in the e34s have a steel pan? Is that able to be swapped to the e30s? and is it the same shape? This is one option that came up but in the thread someone posted it was shot down immediately by forum members.

[Holland]

I know you don't want to raise the car, but another thing to consider is taller tires. Still have the low look, while not having the headache. I honestly couldn't suggest raising the engine, since any height gained would be marginal. Problem with skid plates are, they flex into the pan on contact and crack the pan anyway.

[bigredguy]

I know you don't want to raise the car, but another thing to consider is taller tires. Still have the low look, while not having the headache. I honestly couldn't suggest raising the engine, since any height gained would be marginal. Problem with skid plates are, they flex into the pan on contact and crack the pan anyway.

I thought about it, but the tires are not too much smaller than stock, and with the size im running in the rear I wouldnt be able to pull off any larger tires without the front looking odd and like a fwd drag car. And I cant run any larger tires in the rear because of the specs of the wheels.

A skid plate was the only reasonable thing I could think of. I do not hit my oil pan too often, but having some reassurance would be nice, so I dont have to worry. And the fact that the skid plate can flex and hit the pan anyway was my worry with them being so low.

[bigredguy]

if anyone has pictures of their car with a skid plate installed and can post up a picture of the front and the side if possible to show clearance. and also what skid plate it is, and if youve had any problems with it. They would be greatly appreciated.

[E30_fiend]

I know you don't want to raise the car, but another thing to consider is taller tires. Still have the low look, while not having the headache. I honestly couldn't suggest raising the engine, since any height gained would be marginal. Problem with skid plates are, they flex into the pan on contact and crack the pan anyway.

This has been a constant debate.

If your motor mounts are fresh and your core support isn't bent, your pan should be at least 1/2" from the skid plate. Worn motor mounts will let the motor droop which will cause the pan too be very close or actually touching the skid plate.

Can't blame the plate either if you're aren't careful when you're driving. There isn't a plate in the world that will protect an oil pan from a raised man hole cover at 60mph.


OP, so long as youre careful driving, the plates on the market currently will do the job just fine. As stated earlier, make sure your motor mounts are in good shape. Don't just look at them, put a block of wood on a jack and jack the motor up. If it lifts away from the subframe, they need to be replaced. Hell, I would just replace them anyway. They're pretty cheap and if you've never replaced them, they are probably due.


Taylor

[bigredguy]

This has been a constant debate.

If your motor mounts are fresh and your core support isn't bent, your pan should be at least 1/2" from the skid plate. Worn motor mounts will let the motor droop which will cause the pan too be very close or actually touching the skid plate.

Can't blame the plate either if you're aren't careful when you're driving. There isn't a plate in the world that will protect an oil pan from a raised man hole cover at 60mph.


OP, so long as youre careful driving, the plates on the market currently will do the job just fine. As stated earlier, make sure your motor mounts are in good shape. Don't just look at them, put a block of wood on a jack and jack the motor up. If it lifts away from the subframe, they need to be replaced. Hell, I would just replace them anyway. They're pretty cheap and if you've never replaced them, they are probably due.


Taylor

Ok, thanks alot for the info. I dont want the skid plate because I want to drive like a douche, I have an ETA for god sake haha. I just want it to stop scraping my oil pan every once in a while, and some reasurrance.

And as far as the motor mounts go, how often is a regular change of motor mount bushings? The car does only have 111k, but to my knowledge they have never been replaced. Also any suggested motor mounts?

[nickskater09]

Swap to an E28 M20B27 steel pan? I have a B25 in my E28 with the old steel pan on it no problem. I don't know how it would fit on an E30 but I've taken some pretty good hits to mine and it's holding up perfectly.