Anyone have any tips on the best way to seal a 292 oil pan with a Lowe timing cover? My restored 78 GMC C15 is a daily driver driven to work every day and I want this thing sealed solid so I can get at least a few years before I see any leaks. I have both the Fel-Pro 1819 pan set and the Fel-Pro OS30462C pan set on hand. Tom gave me some pointers but I would like to hear of others experiences. Also, I would love to buy an aluminum pan but have yet to find one so if anyone has one for sale let me know. I have heard of Hamburger pans altered to fit.

I've had good luck making my own pan seals using closed cell neoprene foam that I get from McMaster-Carr.

https://www.mcmaster.com/#neoprene-foam/=1ccqdm7

use permatex "right stuff"

Clean all surfaces with lacquer thinner. This is an essential step.

on the pan side rails use a 1/8' bead, on the end build up enough material so that when you put the pan on - the sealer contacts the pan with no gaps.

no gaskets required

Once installed let it sit for 48 hours for the thick section to cure.

Do you use any sealer on the gaskets? What about the rear seal area?

You don't use the rubber gasket at the rear seal area?

With a stock oil pan I don't find a problem using the rubber seal on the crank end of the pan. It is the timing cover end that can be a problem (as you referenced). So, I just glue ( Gasgacinch) the foam down on one side and put a little silicone in the corners.

With a fabricated aluminum pan I use the foam on both ends.

I don't like to use the gray "right stuff" because it can be a pain to take apart and clean up if you have to disassemble.

Gaerte Racing engines is having a high volume aluminum pan made for my blown 292. I'll let you know where when they get it.

You've put a fabbed aluminum pan on one of these L6's? Where did you get it?

I don't have the pan anymore and didn't originally order it, but If I recall correctly, it was from Stef's (http://www.stefsperformance.net/).

The Chevy L6 isn't listed in their catalog, but like most things with Inlines, it would have been a custom order.

I think any of the oil pan fabricators would be able to build you a pan. Just be prepared to spend some $$ and wait awhile.

Stef's pans are all custom, just because they don't show one isn't an indication they don't do them. I have a Hamburger aluminum drag pan for the Chevy 6. You might check them out also.

You could also try Charlie's Oil Pans 321 310 0890. Ask for Scott. He's built them for a number of top-of-the-line inline racers.