Getting the right oil pan for a big HP RB swap in a 240Z is not easy!

[primaz]

Datsun 240Z RB30 oil pan

For my 1972 240Z, I wanted to create a reliable big horsepower streetcar capable of 800-1000 HP.  To meet those goals I choose RIPS Racing whom has the proven track record in creating reliable high HP street cars, exactly what I was wanting.  One of the issues I faced was that Robbie of RIPS had lost his template for a rear high-capacity oil pan for a 240Z swap.  There does not seem to be any good oil pans for a 240Z RB swap.  If you are building a big horsepower RB engine to be swapped into a 240Z PLEASE BE CAREFUL AS I PERSONALLY DO NOT THINK THERE ARE ANY GOOD PANS AVAILABLE AND YOU WILL NEED TO GO HAVE A CUSTOM OIL PAN MADE!  Here is my sad experience thus far...

 

After spending weeks online reviewing so many oil pans only to find that all of them were not adequate based on RIPS observations. I found this one JHK pan from U.P. Garage that appeared that it might work so I took a chance after they told me it would work,

https://upgarageusa.com/collections/jhk-oil-pans/products/jhk-rear-sump-rb-cast-oil-pan

 

When I received it, I shipped it straight to RIPS as I did not want to undo their professional packing.  I did not open the box, as I just brought it to DHL and they put their label over where your label was.  I sent it to Robbie at RIPS Racing in New Zealand. Unfortunately when it arrived to New Zealand it was damaged.

 

I told Eric, & Doug @ UP Garage via email,

The oil pan you shipped to me was damaged.  I did not open the box, as just brought it to DHL and they put their label over where your label was.  I sent it to Robbie at RIPS Racing in New Zealand.

 

Additionally, Rob told me that this design would not work as there is insufficient clearance between the oil tube and also between the baffle and engine.  I have attached pictures and an MP4 where Robbie shows the box damaged before fully opening it.

 

This was an unfortunate expensive mistake as it cost me over $700 to ship it only to find out it was damaged and would not have been a good pan for my application.  When I get my fully built engine towards the later part of this year Robbie will send your pan and I can return it.  I would hope that I get a refund.  Now we need to source a better pan that has more oil capacity, and a better design to provide the oil flow needed for my engine. 

 

On a phone call UP Garage said it was my fault for not opening the box before I shipped it to New Zealand.  I told them I examined the box it was not damaged in anyway, so I reshipped it without opening it in order to not disturb their packaging, but they still denied any liability.

 

I then sent them the following email,

Eric, & Doug,

I sent the pics you texted me to Robbie, and I am glad he explained the issues technically with the oil pan.  Doug was telling me that your pan would work fine on a more stock build but reading Robbie’s great explanation, I doubt that would be the case on my 2 WD RB block. 

 

Regardless, the oil pan was damaged and if you feel that it can be resold to someone as Doug stated, I will send it to you after I receive my complete engine with the damaged oil pan from RIPS.  You are specializing in a local RB market would be better suited to find a new home for this oil pan than me here in Northern CA.  Doug claimed it should be easy to sell it as the damage was cosmetic, then it would make sense that afterward you resell the oil pan, you could reimburse me for my purchase or at least most of that cost.

 

U.P. Garage sent this email to RIPS,

We are, and have been, huge fans of your hard work to bring HP to the

RB world!!

       So glad that the JHK pan has found it's way to your examination

table. Here are the measurements we have taken on the RB25(rear drive block)

screen configuration.

  Keep up the great work!!

  Feel free to call us:

   +1 253 565 9823

Doug/Erik

Fatty Fat Cat

www.upgarageusa.com

 

From: RIPS Racing

The pictures you have sent are not from a 2wd block, they are from a AWD block, possibly a RB26 with the longer AWD pickup.

 

The measurements you have are with the pickup you have on your block and quite different to the measurements I have with the pickup and oil pan I have received.

 

As stated, with the pickup bolted on (without a gasket) the pan will not go down all the way to the block, the pickup screen is holding the sump up a little bit meaning the screen is already touching the bottom of the sump before its even bolted down flat.

 

There should be about 10mm clearance when the sump is bolted down meaning as it is, bolting the sump down will put load on the pickup and be squashing the screen and the tube inside the screen will be pretty much hard against the floor of the sump meaning a massive restriction in oil flow.

 

RIPS also sent them this email,

Hi,

Just to add to this, with the oil pickup installed on the block (even without a gasket) the sump would not sit flat on the block, the oil pickup was ever so slightly holding it up so the screen on the pickup was hard against the bottom of the oil pan.

This means if the sump was bolted up tight the pickup tube itself (inside the screen) would also be basically hard up against the bottom of the sump meaning major restriction is oil flow. There should be around 12-15mm clearance between the end of the oil pickup tube and usually around 5mm clearance between the screen and the bottom of the oil pan.

 As it was supplied there is no way it could have worked and would have surely led to an engine failure.

 

[primaz]

I do want to give a big thumbs up and shout out to "artishard" here on the HybridZ, I kept searching to find anyone whom had one of RIPS old custom oil pans and it turns out that "artishard" here on the HybridZ has that very pan and was kind enough to share several pictures.  Those pictures were amazing as it looks like they are enough for Robbie at RIPS Racing to make a custom oil pan for my application!  This is why HybridZ is so great to learn from others mistakes and share information so valuable in our pursuit of performance!