L20b installation question

[Jerry]

Just purchased a 1971 510 wagon from BaT. L20b hits the hood. Need to lower it 1/4" to3/8". Oil pan hits the cross member then. Any simple way to resolve this? 1600 oil pan, hammer a nice dent in the oil pan or ? Any advice appreciated.

[MikeY]

Slot the motor mount brackets where they bolt to the block. More on the pass side to add some extra tilt. 1/4 should be plenty. As well, after market rubber mounts are way too thick. Buy Nissan mounts. They are available. The metal is thicker so easy to spot in a online picture. Google should provide a part number. Nissan had them last year. Between proper mounts and a slot it will fit. The engine also rocks a bit and that's when a close fit will hit the hood. New mounts helps it to flex less. The early 68 fully ribbed valve cover will never fit. But that's probably not your issue.

[MikeY]

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/313974540979?mk ... media=COPY
That was easy. Just incase someone has previously replaced the mounts.

[datzenmike]

Hey Mike, would putting an aluminum spacer between cross member and the sub frame work? Oil pan clearance to cross member would be unchanged. What about lowering down onto the steering would that be a problem? There's a problem to every solution.

[MikeY]

You could raise the car body to help clear the valve cover. I've found even with the slotting of the mount there still can be some interference. I've used clay to check clearance when the engine is static and easily had 3/8. But still got a little hood dent after running the engine. It's the movement that causes the problem. And you can only slot so much as the way the engine drops in between the 2 mounts at a angle prevents it. It's like it's falling into a triangle. Hope that make sense. Add tilt, and after that the spacers might be the only way to grab another little bit more room.

[Jerry]

Thank you for your solutions. I will look in to your suggestions. I'm still considering cutting the oil pan.

[Jerry]

I found out the L20b oil pan is much deeper than the L16 oil pan. Anyone have an L16 oil pan and oil pickup?

[AZ510]

I have a rusty 510 oil pan..would need to be blasted inside and out

[Pjackb]

FWIW
I used OEM Nissan isolators and originally slotted the engine mounts 12mm and 10mm respectively
Once installed we felt it was too close to the x-member with only a few mm of space so we raised the engine back up until we were comfortable with the clearance
I would say we ended up at around 9mm and 7mm

[iceman510]

I found out the L20b oil pan is much deeper than the L16 oil pan. Anyone have an L16 oil pan and oil pickup?

I have likely two L16 oil pans available.

[Jerry]

Thank you for the response iceman. What would you want for the oil pan and pickup.

[iceman510]

Let me double check and confirm the pan, as well as making sure I have an extra pickup.

[yenpit]

Do you have the early 1968-1969 valve cover with the cast ribs up over the timing chain hump, or no ribs? The ribbed is taller by the height of the ribs & can hit the hood.

Also, the aftermarket rubber engine mounts were made too thick & raised the engine. Because the L20B has a 3/4in taller block deck, it raises the cylinder head & valve cover by that much PLUS the added thickness of those mounts can make it even worse! I will have good clean USED original 68-73 510 rubber engine mounts, not sagged, not all dry rotted. Let me know if you need a pair.

There is really only two 68-73 510 oil pans........one with a rear drain, the other with a side drain. Always remember that oil pans basically fit the CHASSIS of a car. Both 510 pans have the deep indentation at the rear, to clear the steering linkage. The truck rear sump oil pans do not have that deep indentation & I don't think they will work in a 510 chassis at all............

[yenpit]

I don't think an original L20B oil pan would fit the 510 chassis at all. I tell everybody doing an L20B swap to use the original L16 510 oil pan & pick up tube.

You must also be sure you have the original L16 510 engine mount BRACKETS & that they are on the correct original SIDE...........right vs left. I have seen people trying to use the incorrect brackets before..........I will also have correct L16 510 brackets.