Wondering how long it is to replace an oil pan on a 1974 Porsche 914.

Wondering how long it is to replace an oil pan on a 1974 Porsche 914. Thanks

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[Nick at Pelican Parts]

Depends on your experience. The small cover or do you want to reseal the crankcase?


I opened a post in our forums. A Pelican community member may be able to answer your question.


- Nick

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Well, depends on if you're using a Sawz-All, or a grinder, or a hacksaw to cut the bottom off the motor...

There is no "oil pan" on a 914's engine. The engine block ("crankcase") is split into a left half and a right half. The bottom of those two halves is the oil pan, effectively. There are two round sump plates that can be removed and replaced; one is in the middle and the oil pickup tube is right above it, the other is in the left-front corner of the engine and if there is an oil temp sender, it is in there.

If either of those is removed, care must be taken to not over tighten the fasteners that hold it on. The left-front plate is sometimes called the "taco plate", on the theory that over-tightening the mounting bolts will warp it like a taco shell. But more likely, the bolts will just strip out of the bottom of the case, meaning you have to put a heli-coil or some other thread repair in place.

The center plate is held on by a single nut (which looks like a bolt). Its torque spec is very low, 9 lb-ft., and if you over-tighten it you can pull down on the oil pickup tube and break the part of the case that the tube hangs from. Which also supports one of the cam bearings. Which pretty much means you need to find another crankcase and build a new motor.

Replacing either of those can be done in less than an hour. Maybe longer if you count the oil change you will need to do, because all the oil in the engine will come out when you remove either plate.

So, what was it you were trying to do?

--DD