series 2 3.8 with factory aluminum pan?

[l67ss]

Found couple bonnevilles in the jy that confused me, 2002 with series 2 3.8s and aluminumpans. Thought they didnt get them til 2004. Anyway are these the same pans that came on say, a 2005 gp? If so that would be kool as i can make it work on my car. Thanks

[carkhz316]

Here's the thing: the Oldsmobile 88/98 cars; and Buick Lesabre/ Park Avenue and any other H-body car often utilize a couple different styles of aluminum pans that will physically bolt to any 3800. Those have been used since early 2000's (not sure exactly when or if all of them them do). The W-body's started gettting a aluminum pan in 2004-5 on the GP's. (again, not positive on years.) The problem is that they don't have the same lower motor mount setup as W-body's. Where the w-body has the lower motor mount underneath the harmonic balancer, the other cars have it higher up on the frame rail. The difference in the pans is that the W-body pan has the casting in the pan allowing the motor mount to be directly bolted to it, whereas on the H-body cars, there is nothing but a normal pan; no provisions for the motor mount. So yes, you can use a aluminum pan, but it has to be out of a w-body, such as GP or Lacrosse.

 

Here's the w-body pan with the bolt holes for the mount/ bracket:

Edited December 1, 2013 by carkhz316

[l67ss]

Ok thanks man. Yeah those dont look like the pans i found oh well

Here's the thing: the Oldsmobile 88/98 cars; and Buick Lesabre/ Park Avenue and any other H-body car often utilize a couple different styles of aluminum pans that will physically bolt to any 3800. Those have been used since early 2000's (not sure exactly when or if all of them them do). The W-body's started gettting a aluminum pan in 2004-5 on the GP's. (again, not positive on years.) The problem is that they don't have the same lower motor mount setup as W-body's. Where the w-body has the lower motor mount underneath the harmonic balancer, the other cars have it higher up on the frame rail. The difference in the pans is that the W-body pan has the casting in the pan allowing the motor mount to be directly bolted to it, whereas on the H-body cars, there is nothing but a normal pan; no provisions for the motor mount. So yes, you can use a aluminum pan, but it has to be out of a w-body, such as GP or Lacrosse.

 

Here's the w-body pan with the bolt holes for the mount/ bracket:

[Imp558]

There's a post in here somewhere where I put a couple pictures of my oil pan. Had two notch the W Fadi you bracket for clearance but other than that it was fine. Mine is a series 3.

[l67ss]

I knew had seen a pic of someone doing that, had forgotten who it was. Im just having trouble finding a serie 3 in the jy

There's a post in here somewhere where I put a couple pictures of my oil pan. Had two notch the W Fadi you bracket for clearance but other than that it was fine. Mine is a series 3.

[carkhz316]

There's a post in here somewhere where I put a couple pictures of my oil pan. Had two notch the W Fadi you bracket for clearance but other than that it was fine. Mine is a series 3.

 

The what? Please share your pic/ thread as I want to see as well.

[Imp558]

HaHa, Android heard "W Fadi you bracket" when I said "W-Body U-Bracket", oops. I can't find those pics they must be on my work computer so I'll look tomorrow. I thought I posted them a while back...? Anyway there are a couple good shots in an album in my profile of just the oil pan. Essentially all I did was grind a little clearance off of the U-Bracket that reaches from one side of the block to the other and has the front mount on it. It needed ground a little in 2 spots on either side and I thought a spot in the middle was a bit close so I took a little off there too.

It's really worth saying that you need to put the front engine mount onto the bracket before you install the bracket onto the block, there isn't clearance to get a wrench on the nuts with the S3 oil pan.

[carkhz316]

I see. Thanks for the clarification. I assume your procedure is for someone who just wants to use a aluminum pan. I was just referencing my experience with using it in tandem with a 5 speed swap and different OFA.

[Imp558]

I think this requires the series 3 pick up tube as well, My series 2 one was bent But I think it would have been a little shorter anyway. The level on the dipstick still looks the same So I could be wrong