ok got a 86 oil pan since it holds more oil than my 87 now the problem i'm having is the pan won't bolt up since it hits the pick-up tube so now that i bought a pan i need to buy the matching part wonder if the dipsticks are same length has anyone done the pan swap?

 

Nope sorry, but I imagine the 2.5L one is the biggest, but thats just based on the fact that it has balance shafts. Mine holds about 6.5 (maybe even 7) quarts once I took the balance shafts out. If its possible just go back to the engine you got the pan from and swipe the pickup.

I don't think the dipstick is going to make a difference because it probably is meant to stick the same amount past the crank in all models. I know for a fact that mine doesn't go nowhere near the bottom of the pan and I am using stock pan and dipstick.

 

The way I understand it the 2.2 pans are shallower because there are no balance shafts submersed in the oil. Either way the oil level is going to be the same distance from the crank in either pan so oil sloshing around and hitting the crank should theoretically be the same between both provided we are comparing a 2.5 pan without balance shafts to 2.2 pan both filled to capacity.

There shouldn't be anymore windage in a 2.5 pan (sans balance shafts) than a 2.2 pan. Thats my opinion.

If you are really concerned with performance only a full windage tray or baffled oil pan is going to make a difference. The difference (if any) in windage between a 2.2 pan and a 2.5 pan without balance shafts should not make a noticeable difference in performance.

 

That is correct. But when you take the shafts out, it changes the situation.

Thats where the minor things take control. The shape of the 2.5 pan is very square. Without the shafts in there to break it up, the oil starts sloshing round against the square sides and could cause "waves" back and forth in either direction depending on if you're autoxing or dragging. The shafts are almost a baffle for that. Now, the 2.2 pan has a "nose" on the front of the pan. It makes all the walls non-parallel so when the sloshing oil hits it, it breaks it up instead of bouncing it back in another wave. I hope i'm explaining this good, i just woke up!

how I explained it above, i believe there is a difference. You are correct in a full baffled pan with a tray would be the ultimate, but getting a T2 pan was easier and cheaper for me and should be all I need. Yes, many run the 2.5 pan with no shafts and have no noticable problems as far as starvation.. but i wonder how much oil is slamming against the crank without them knowing.

 

That sounds familier.. the bracket. If you have an old MP book with the baffled oil pan it in, it says you need an 86 or older pickup.. so it must have changed then, not in 89.

 

Now I am confused because the only flat side of my pan is the back, and the front does have a nose shaped bulge right around the oil pump, and the bottom has a very slight "v" shape.