7 Quart Moroso Oil Pan for V8 Vega, Astra, Monza, Sunbird - $75 (Rapid City)
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For a SBC. Sectioned to clear steering linkage and K-frame. Holds 7 quarts. I've gotten requests to ship this oil pan. I'm very reluctant to do this, because I believe the condition warrants inspection prior to purchase. It needs some TIG welding work to seal it up ad make it pretty again.
OK, here's the story on this oil pan. I purchased this pan and installed it back in 1984. I just finished building and painting my black 1972 V8 Vega GT right before hitting the interstate from Minneapolis to report to my first duty station at Columbus AFB in Mississippi. I had gotten a late start, (trying to get the car finished) so there wasn't much traffic on the road at 1:30 a.m., when I turned south at the Chicago bypass. I was jamming out to a little Charlie Daniels "Uneasy Rider", " I was Toolin' along (pretty good) in my Chevrolet." I had my CB and hidden stealth radar detector stoked-up, playing a little catch me if you can, with Smokey bear.
The glossy paint, new slotted mags and BF Goodrich RWL tires, along with dark tinted windows were lookin' good, glistening in the moonlight. The rumble of the headers, and chrome side pipes were soundin' good as it reverberated throughout the car. The engine with the 600 cfm Holley was runnin' real good in the cool night air.
So of course, just 20 miles south of Chicago I ran across some poorly marked road construction. They had freshly milled the concrete, in preparation for a new topcoat of asphalt. I did manage to get the old girl slowed down to a semi respectable 60mph or so, before hitting the unmarked transition bump which produced a very sickening screech as the rough concrete sliced two neat parallel, two inch slits the bottom of my oil pan. I quickly pulled to the side of the road, got out and saw the stream of oil pouring out the bottom of the pan. It wasn't a good place to stop, so I jumped back in the car and ran as far as I could, until the oil pressure started to drop and shut her down. Coasting to a stop at the side of the road. It was still about two miles to the next exit. I opened all eight of the bottles of oil that I had with me, "slammed em in there", and "fired that mother up!" "Well... I roared up off of that shoulder, spraying pine cones, rocks and boulders. I put 400 head of..." Detroit thoroughbreds to work, going for broke. Sorry, a little C.W. McCall "Wolf Creek Pass" might have crept into my mix tape. Well, this time I made it to within a couple hundred yards of the exit ramp, before coasting to a stop and putting my four-way flashers on.
I swear, I wasn't there 30 seconds, I had just keyed my mic... "Breaker, Breaker 19. Any 24 hr. Tow-trucks got their ears on?" Look who rolls up... Smokey himself. I mean, the official, genuine, Illinois State variety trooper, hat, boots diagonal black leather shoulder strap and all. I have to say he looked pretty sharp and intimidating in his uniform. He was built! He had obviously, spent many more hours in the gym, than sitting and eating doughnuts. "What's the trouble"? He asked rather sternly. "I seem to have sliced open my oil pan on a bump back there a ways, just trying to get a 24hr tow truck.? "Yea, I've been following your trail for awhile now. You weren't going a little fast through that road construction area, were you"? "Um..." "Looks like you're a little far from home" he said, acknowledging my Minnesota plates. "Where are you headed?" Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. I said. I have about 40 hours to report for duty. "Driver's license and registration please." Which, I promptly produced, along with a copy of my orders. "Wait here," he said as he took my papers back to his vehicle.
When he returned, he sternly informed me that neither my blue-dot taillights, nor my dark tinted windows were legal in the state of Illinois. "I noticed you were talking on a CB when I pulled up, but I don't see a CB antenna. " Yea, I don't like the looks of them so, I adapted it to run through the radio antenna. "Nice looking car. I've seen a chin spoiler and rear louvers for these before, however I don't think I've ever seen a three-piece wrap-around rear spoiler before. Nope, and I doubt you ever will see another one. It's a one-off custom piece that I built myself. "Looks cool" he said, as he handed me back my paperwork. I doubt you will be in the state of Illinois too much longer if you can get your car fixed, so I guess I'll cut you some slack and not issue you any tickets.
"Can I radio you a tow truck. I know of one which will probably treat you right. Maybe even be able to get you back on the road tonight." That would be great I said. Ten minutes later as we were standing around watching the tow truck driver raise the front of the car. I remember thinking to myself, that if you knew what you were looking for, my remote stealth radar detector antenna was barely visible behind my grill.
As I got into the passenger side of the tow truck, the trooper bid me good luck, and said "you might think about slowing down a bit, ...and by the way, if you didn't know, Radar detectors are illegal in the State of Illinois." Yep, sometimes you get a good one. Wish I had thought to get his name.
Ten minutes later the car was in the shop and up on the lift. He said, it would probably be too hard to weld it up properly tonight, but "I bet a quarter's worth of bondo will seal it up and get you where you need to go." The bill with the tow and 8 quarts oil (two spares since I didn't drain the oil filter) was only $68.00 or $78.00. So, I gave him a $100.00 and was very thankful that it cost me so little, and at 2:30 a.m. I was back on the Interstate headin' south again.
I drove the car like that for the next three months before I could replace it. It only leaked about a drop or two per day. That's the story of why this oil pan has bondo smeared on it. I haven't thought about that trip for about 40 years. Almost got a little teary-eyed with nostalgia thinking about it.