Oil pan sits below frame

[Joel Hauser]

I built an Mk4 using a 4.6l motor. Its been on the road for more than 5 years. I used the Canton low profile oil pan for these kit cars. The oil pan still sits more than an inch below the frame. I didn't have any problems until this weekend when I got trapped in a Target parking lot with a very high and steep speed bump. There was no way out other than to proceed forward over the bump. No damage was done, probably because I drove over the bump at about 1 mph. But the oil pan definitely took a hit. no dents, no leaks.

I'm thinking I should raise the motor. I've looked at some of the shims that are available, like whitby's Motor Mount Spacer for Modular Motors 4.6 at https://www.whitbymotorcars.com/product/motor-mount-spacer-for-4-6/. However, the shim is only 3/8 thick, and looking at the angle of the motor mounts, I doubt these shims will lift the engine even a 1/4 inch.

Is there some other way to raise the engine a full inch or two?

Thanks

[gbranham]

Gordon Levy might have a solution for you. Give him a shout.

[egchewy79]

Martin Lira makes a skid plate for this. Not sure if it’ll be deep enough for your application

[Joel Hauser]

my pan sits way to low for the skid plate.217058

[BrewCityCobra]

my pan sits way to low for the skid plate.217058

Wow, I can't believe you got away with that for 5 years. Bravo.

My pan is about 1/8" too low and I've "grounded" the car from any future trips until I can get the pan swapped out out of an abundance of fear of bottoming out.

That said, I also recommend going to Gordon Levy - I had an engine mount issue earlier in my build and he hopped on the phone with me and we walked through some potential solutions. Hopefully he can do that for you as well.

[Norm B]

If you get shims to move the engine up enough you might want to put a spacer under the transmission mount.
I put skid rails on the bottom of my frame to protect the oil pan. Can’t go up with the engine due to my combination of intake manifold spacers for the Sniper and air cleaner.

Norm

[Jeff Kleiner]

You realize that if you raise the engine an inch it’ll put your sidepipes into the body meaning that the openings will have to be reworked, right?

Jeff

[Joel Hauser]

Thanks everyone. I emailed Levy Racing and asked if they think shims or new motor mounts are the solution. Jeff, I'm not afraid to rework the sidepipe cutouts; I've got several sizes of sanding drums that I can put on my drill. I did my own paint and body work. It is [very] far from perfect, but I'm not a perfectionist. I'm just a do-it-yourselfer. I'll be careful. My concern is that if I lift the motor two inches, the threaded stud coming out of the motor mount won't be long enough to reach the mounting bracket that is welded to the frame. (I'm also dreading having to unbolt the side pipes from the headers; they are probably rusted together, and very difficult to access.)
Thanks everyone.

[Joel Hauser]

I'm still thinking about this, but just want to say that Gordon Levy replied to my email in less than 5 minutes, and has been offering me really good, sage advice all afternoon. How nice is that? I think I'm going buy some big washers, jack up the motor, stack the washers between the motor mount and frame bracket, and the transmission mount, and see how it looks. Maybe it will be an easy fix? or maybe I just won't drive the roadster to Target anymore.
Joel