1970-71 hemi/six pack pan capacity

[Beekeeper]

I know the stated capacity of the 70-71 hemi/six pack pan is 6 quarts plus a quart for the filter. I have a pan that’s not on anything and I filled it with 7 quarts and set the windage tray
in and it just came to the bottom side of it. Any reason why I couldn’t run more than stated capacity of oil in it? I know some of the oil will drain back from the filter when shut down but will go back when the engine is fired I’m wondering if I could run 8 quarts total.

 

[69Bee]

Because of crankshaft windage; the ability of wrapping the oil around the crank and emptying the oil pan, not to mention frothing up the oil and inducing air into it. I used to run a windage tray, and would run 2 extra quarts, for ego reasons I guess, and never had a problem. Now-a-days, I would probably keep it to 1 quart.

 

[RemCharger]

I always run 1 extra quart over full on the dipstick.
I assumed that would put it up to, or maybe over the windage tray. But never really checked.
Stock windage tray or stroker?

 

[R413]

Why do you think need extra oil over 6 quarts? What are you trying to gain. What is the problem now?

what could go wrong?

 

[Andy Davenport]

Knife edge the crank and get the moving parts raha
ended and get an oil accumulater so you can keep the engine primed, should get a few more 100,000 miles out of doing this

 

[Beekeeper]

This would be for a 426 hemi stroker and was just pondering the idea of having an extra quart
in there. I can’t see it wrapping the crank anymore than it would with the six plus a quart for the filter with a windage tray in place but I’m no expert on the subject. This engine has bearing clearances of .0025 and was thinking the standard volume pump would do fine. There again I’m not well versed in the oiling subject when it comes to gen 2 hemis. This will be a street driven
car so no extended high rpms so maybe I’m over thinking this thing. @R413 nothing is wrong now just don’t want to risk sucking the sump dry. Oh and it’s a stock windage tray. So I need some schooling
on oiling a street hemi stroker.

 

[RemCharger]

Beekeeper I don't think you're overthinking this. You've got serious dough in the engine, no point in seeing exactly what point it'll run out of oil. Stock block? Indy? Indys are known for holding oil in the lifter galley

 

[Beekeeper]

Beekeeper I don't think you're overthinking this. You've got serious dough in the engine, no point in seeing exactly what point it'll run out of oil. Stock block? Indy? Indys are known for holding oil in the lifter galley

1970 stock block with Stage V custom heads. Has a bullet roller with crane pro series lifters no pushrod oiling. 4.250 stroke crank with 7.1 rods. I don’t want a dang oil pan sticking 3” below the k member so I was hoping to utilize this hemi pan if possible.

 

[RemCharger]

I'm no Hemi guy but there must be lots of room for oil to hide up there

 

[33 IMP]

I wouldnt, especially with a stroker. Extra oil will wrap around the crank, and aerate, you will end up with lots of air in your oil.
Engine masters did an oilpan shootout (you can see an intro, and a conclusion on you tube, but the whole episode is only available on motortrend on demand). They were primarily concerned with horsepower, and ended up draining three quarts out of an eight quart milodon pan. Thats probably not safe anywhere but on a dyno, but besides the horsepower increase, it showed a substantial increase in oil pressure stability, by avoiding windage due to the oil level being too close to the crank.
I would probably run tbe six quarts, or maybe less, rather than more.
Have you looked at milodons road race pan? Excellent baffling, more capacity, doesnt hang any lower than the hemi pan (i dont think?!) (I have heard that they do have leak problems, however).

 

[Beekeeper]

@33 IMP i have been looking at the road race pan do they leak in the welds or at the pan rails? if I do indeed need 8 quarts of oil in this beast I’ll cough up the dough for that gold plated pan.

 

[33 IMP]

@33 IMP i have been looking at the road race pan do they leak in the welds or at the pan rails? if I do indeed need 8 quarts of oil in this beast I’ll cough up the dough for that gold plated pan.

I dont honestly recall, but im pretty sure it was somebody here who wasnt happy. Maybe a search will bring it up.
I suspect the welds, and it should be possible to pressure test before installing.
I agree, you shouldnt have to do that with a high dollar pan, but its a lot easier to test before its in the car.

 

[BSB67]

Keep the oil level at or below the windage tray and you'll be okay. You don't want the crank laying in the oil. Remember that the engine is angled toward the rear so your oil volume test might not be accurate if you did it with the pan level.

 

[Beekeeper]

Keep the oil level at or below the windage tray and you'll be okay. You don't want the crank laying in the oil. Remember that the engine is angled toward the rear so your oil volume test might not be accurate if you did it with the pan level.

The pan was at the right angle during the test the back end of the windage tray was the only part that was in contact with the liquid with 7 quarts in the pan.

 

[WileE]

You did this test while the pan was completely still and at rest. Now, do the same with the pan on your lap while somebody drives around going over bumps, hard accel & decelerations, hard cornering, over dips and valleys, etc. Let me know the results.

 

[Beekeeper]

You did this test while the pan was completely still and at rest. Now, do the same with the pan on your lap while somebody drives around going over bumps, hard accel & decelerations, hard cornering, over dips and valleys, etc. Let me know the results.

I don’t have any swimming trunks

 

[WileE]

I don’t have any swimming trunks

Exactly. That oil will be sloshing around, which is why the windage tray is beneficial. And the oil enters the system thru the pickup at the bottom of the pan. So, why add another quart ? I remember doing oil changes with dry dipsticks on peoples cars. but there was just enough in the bottom of the pan.

 

[BSB67]

You did this test while the pan was completely still and at rest. Now, do the same with the pan on your lap while somebody drives around going over bumps, hard accel & decelerations, hard cornering, over dips and valleys, etc. Let me know the results.

But of course the engine would be running under those conditions, and the oil will be even further below the windage tray. Of course the oil will be slopping around below the windage tray, so? Some of it runs out the back under hard accelleration, so? The negative consequences of of having an extra quart in the pan below the windage tray is nil. If its that verses being a quart short and uncovering the pick for an instant, I know which I would choose.

 

[440+6]

On a 440 the full mrk is 1.5 inches below the block, I'm gussing hemi is the same.

 

[WileE]

But of course the engine would be running under those conditions, and the oil will be even further below the windage tray. Of course the oil will be slopping around below the windage tray, so? Some of it runs out the back under hard accelleration, so? The negative consequences of of having an extra quart in the pan below the windage tray is nil. If its that verses being a quart short and uncovering the pick for an instant, I know which I would choose.[/QUOT

Yeah, I know.. I just don't see wasting another qt. of oil, under normal use, the pickup will never get dry... ( you wouldn't believe how many people drive with dry dipsticks, they used to check it during a fuel fill at the gas station, but afterwards many people never check theirs )