who has pics of the gotham oil pan brace, mounted and installed? I checked all threads with mention of it and found no pics with it mounted. I am very curious as to how it looks and goes in. I ordered one today and opted to go without the hardware (it was only 20 some odd dollars) so I am wondering what type of bolts I will need for the install? oh and by the way I did get the oil pan and motor mounts out without having to drop the subframe. I do have a d-pipe and was able to jack the tranny up and turn it 180 degrees and tilt it out through the middle of the subframe. I was amazed. word to the wise, try everything you can before defaulting and going the hard way, I thought for sure we were going to have to drop the subframe, shows why you got to be optimistic about things. anyway anyone have pics and info on the hardware I need for the gotham oil pan brace??

 

Not sure why you need a picture, but it mounts on the outside of the oil pan, NOT between the pan on motor!!. Just take a bolt to your local hardware store and tell them how much longer you need it, and they should be able to find it for you. Probably should have just got the hardware with the brace, you probably wont find it any cheaper. I've heard nothing but great things about the brace and seems to fix everyones leaking problems!!

-Alex

 

dropping the subframe is not a hard thing...i can take the pan out with removing the subframe in about two hours...and putting it back will be a lot cleaner especially since you'll have all that sealant on the pan...i just got the oil pan brace also...with the hardware...but i probably won't be able to get it on till next week

 

I need a picture just for reference. I want to see exactly how it goes on. I know it goes outside the pan, and I figured I would have to go over to the hardware store and match up bolts. I was just seeing if anyone had the right info and pics to give me a jump start. I wonder why, if the brace is such a good fix, people don't have much feedback other than "it's great" and "fixes the leak". someone has to have some pics and more direct feedback as to how it works or how it goes on. does it tie in to the subframe? does it just wedge between the subframe and then bolt to the pan? I need some answers, otherwise I will find out next week. hoping some one can help.

 

If you need a picture to figure this out you may want to just stop working on the car now. I don't think that there is a more DIRECT "bolt-on" piece made for this car.

Step 1.) You remove the oil pan bolts and pan. Reseal the pan with gasket(or not) and silicon.

Step 2.) Installl oil pan.

Step 3.) Install OIL PAN BRACE so all the holes line up. Install the new LONGER bolts.

Step 4.) Install engine mounts. RETIGHTEN oil pan bolts. Lower engine to subframe. Tighten engine mounts. DRIVE!!.

It is that freakin simple man. You do not need a degree to do this job. Or a picture. Take a pic of your oil pan on the car now. Then color in a aluminum brace around the flange surface of the pan. That is your reference.

The brace is ONLY making the mounting surface/flange of the oil pan thicker. Which in turn "should" help the engine from twisting. And causing a leak.
It is NOT attached to the subframe or anything else. Didn't you read the product description before you ordered it?

here it is off the gotham website. It says it all in the description.:-

"Gotham Racing Oil Pan Brace. $139.00



Click to enlarge
This oil pan brace prevents oil leaks due to engine twisting from high horsepower applications. By installing this brace, it helps minimize engine twist due to the extra thickness added to the bottom of the oil pan.
NOTE: The brace goes underneath (outside) of the oil pan. Please don't install it between the engine and oil pan! Longer bolts are needed due to the extra thickness and are sold separately or at your local hardware store."

And imo: Most oil pan leaks are caused by incorrect installation by the owner/mechanic. You MUST retighten the perimeter 6mm(10mm bolt head) bolts that are the MAIN sealing bolts. When the engine mounts are torqued down, the little bolts gain slack in them and need to be retorqued. Otherwise a oil leak will appear. Causing you to blame the oil pan brace and motor mounts. When it is actually your own fault for not retorqing the small perimeter bolts Just some FYI when you go back together. So you don't get a wrong impression of the brace.

 

Just imagine making a cutout the flange of the existing of oil-pan and that's the brace, albeit, thicker. IMHO, the optional bolt kit is much better because it has built-in washers, which makes installation so much easier.

We test-fitted it on a spare oilpain, and the bolt holes were too small, so we enlarged them very slightly with a drill-press.

Also, use a sealant called "The Right Stuff" by Permatex. IMHO, and other race teams, it is "the ****" for oil-resistant long-lasting sealants. Lay a thin bead on the oil-pan (clean and oil-free), and then with you fingers as a spatula spread it around.

Let it sit for about 5-8 minutes and then install it wihout pushing down very hard. Take your time slowly and evenly torquing the bolts to spec. DO NOT OVER TORQUE, you want the sealant to do the work.

Put some of the sealant on the engine mounting bolts as well.

Only a month of use, but everything is nice and dry down there.

I would let it sit overnight (8+ hrs.) before adding any oil and driving, that way the sealant is fully cured and you don't have a stray piece in your oil-system which can CLOG and damage your engine.

:-) neil

 

http://www.gothamracing.com/catalog/...ywords=oil+pan

 

thanks for everyones help. "If you need a picture to figure this out you may want to just stop working on the car now. I don't think that there is a more DIRECT "bolt-on" piece made for this car."
My bad. I must be a dumb ***. Didn't think it was too much to ask for a picture, I am fully capable of doing the work thank you. All I have seen were pics of the brace itself. If it only makes the flange more thick and keeps it from torqing itself off, then that was the answer I was looking for. I now know why people hate posting, flaming me for such a simple answer must have made you all feel real good. more power too ya. I guess just doing something without instructions and information on how it works is the way to go. I have read enough on how to change the oil pan that it is I could do a write up, I do my homework and this is all I posted for, so I could be more prepared to do it right. on the other hand, thanx to everyone for the "helpful" input.

 

you may not be a dumb *** but you are a smart ***!! I wasn't flaming you , I was emphasizing how easy of a job this is! Sorry you can't see that this is not a major job. PLUS there is a picture of the brace on their site. So use THAT as a reference.(and it tells you how to put it on in the section marked with a big NOTE

Way to respond like a teenager I guess a step by step explanation of how it is done wasn't enough for you. Hard to please eh!

 

your right? I just needed the answer to how the brace does its job. not that I should stop now since I don't know what I am doing. I needed some product feedback from someone who has experience with it, not to explain what it is and how easy it is to put on. Is everything supposed to be self explainatory. I can never inquire "why". I just don't understand what you were trying to accomplish by telling me, to stop now cause I don't know what I am doing. I thank everyone for the info, just not the unnecessary comments. I don't understand the attitude, but hey that's you. I try helping people out without going out of my way to put them down and discourage them. works good, you should try it. I for one don't appreciate unwarranted comments, next time don't respond if you insist on talking about someone and what they know or don't know, keep it to yourself. for everyone else, thank you for your time.

 

back to the topic, OK I do not need an explaination on what the pan brace is or how easy it is to install. I need feedback from anyone that has put this on their car. M104-AMG helped out a lot. how am I supposed to know what bumps are in the road. It is good info to know that they had to drill out the holes bigger and he also reiterated what kind of seal to use, etc. This is the type of stuff I am looking for, not "it works good" or "fixes the leak". I can search all day and read that kind of stuff. What problems occur when installing it, what should I be aware of, that kind of stuff. If I believed everything I read, I would have dropped the subframe and many other things I did not need to do. that is the reason for this thread. FEEDBACK. thanx for anyone else who has any HELPFUL info.

 

by the way I had an an oil pan gasket on the pan before I took it off. made me believe that it was the original job. no gasket sealer, nothing. just a messed up old leaky gasket and one pass. side motor mount with oil all over the place. I figured this is probably the cause of the leak. the gasket itself.I have a new pan and mounts (big ups to rotoboy) I plan on dimpling the pan and using the right stuff for imports to seal it up, I also am putting the oil pan brace on. I did call back to Gotham and ordered the hardware with it. this is where I am at with the project. I just needed feedback from someone to find out any unexpected bumps or anything else I should know before completing this. thanx