Gotham Oil Pan Brace or Ground Zero Oil Pan
 

I've got a pretty good leak coming from my drivers side rear of my oil pan. Pissed about it too since we spend so much time on it before we put the motor back in the car. We cleaned it so it was spotless, used hondabond, then let it cure for 3 days before doing anything with the motor and it is leaking like crazy. Maybe we just didn't use enough hondabond, or something, i don't know, but next time i want to be sure it doesn't leak.

Has everyone that used the oil pan brace had good luck? Its quite a bit cheaper, so i'd rather go that route if its going to work. My friend has been using the Ground Zero oil pan for a couple years and hasn't had a problem, but i don't want to spend the money unless nothing else is going to work. What are your thoughts?

Look in to the Garfinkle oil pan brace... I was in Tennessee yesterday and saw his plans for his brace.. and seems like its going to work pretty well. I'm personally going to get couple of them for my engines..

my vote is for the Ground Zero oil pan if you have the money. the braces bring the hight of the motor up. i cant say the Ground Zero pan wont do the same as im not sure about the thickness of the area that bolts to the block. yet if your long term goals for the car are hight the pan helps cool the motor and the pan needs no bracing... thats what i look at.

it raises the motor as well...higher.

IMO, I would go with the brace unless you want/need the extra capacity the GZ oil pan offers.

Another problem I see with Ground zero oil pan is that it might crack (since its cast AL)! GZ pan if my car was to solely track or drag my car, but for street car where you can't predict what you might hit on the road, I would stick with stock... And Gar's brace.

There is no way to get garfinkle's brace besides that group buy right? I replied but i'm too late for it. I want to get my oil leak fixed as soon as possible so the gotham brace looks like my only option right now.

^give it a week or so...The braces are in the final stages of fabrication, once they start shipping...we'll know if there are any extras. (there should be a couple...but that's a secret between you and me, okay ;) )

I'm sure Garfinkle's brace will be great, but Gotham's brace works just fine. Myself and many others are using it. Keep in mind that just like the various spaces Mazda offers, the engine can be "just off" than what was used for the brace mold. Therefore you might need to enlarge a hole on the brace to fit it. I had to slightly dremel one hole which took all of 30 seconds. ;)

Yeah, I'm BIG TIME not a fan of the GZ oil pan for a car that sees the street. Hangs too low, and the cast aluminum can easily crack if you hit something in the road. Also, with no provision for an oil level sender, you won't know if the pan broke and all your oil is gone until too late!

The Gotham brace would likely be fine as well - same principle. The biggest part of the job is properly cleaning and sealing everything - this is the key area where people goof up.

Dale

Alright guys i retract my previous vote!!! i never even thought about it being cast aluminum yet its so obvious.
i guess im really lucky as far as engine pan sealing goes (crosses fingers) cause i really drive my car hard and it doesnt leak. this season theres going to be a bit of drag racing involved so my days are most likely numbered.

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/caution-those-who-upgraded-their-oil-pan-war-room-pic-445974/
for those who haven't seen it

Dub, I saw Gar yesterday and he said he's going to try to make it to DGRR..

might also want to check that your oil pan is level. a slight warpage will make it hard to seal properly.