oil pan questions/observations

[GLHNSLHT2]

Was swapping an FM oil pan onto my 2.2 commonblock this weekend and found something interesting. I run the old water pump so years ago (maybe gary's site??) I heard you have to notch the oil pan to clear the water pump. I did this mod to both my 2.5 and 2.2 oil pans I bought years ago. Maserati also did this mod (crappy Italian workmanship) to the Masi 16v CB I have.

My modded 2.2 89 pan



Factory Masi 16v pan



Then I went to put the FM pan on and found this:




A fully factory formed notch in the pan. Now my theory is that this pan started life as a 2.5 Tall deck pan. To me that would explain the notch need to clear the 88 and earlier water pump. Am I correct? Thought this might help someone wanting to run a 2.5 and a early water pump.

[ShelGame]

That would make sense. I have a couple of these on my shelf. I'll look at them later tonight.

The TD oil pan is otherwise the same as the CB 2.5 pan, except that it does NOT have the nasty sound deadening panels. Makes for a nicer pan to modify (IE weld on) if you're adding baffles and such.