Raphs50

I have had my engine out for a couple months now getting it rebuilt with a 331 stroker kit. I added some upgrades, one of which was a 7-qt oil pan and pickup from Milodon (picked by the shop doing the work, not by me). I am getting close to putting the engine back in, and yesterday I put the block plate and bellhousing on, so I could check the run-out on the bellhousing, and I notice that the block plate is awfully close to the rear drain plug of the oil pan. I am using an aftermarket Lakewwod SFI-approved bellhousing. So I try and remove the drain plug with the bellhousing on, and the plug comes about 75% out before it hits the block plate and won't go any farther. About 1/2 the drain plug is covered by the block plate and bellhousing.
Has anyone else run into this? It looks like I am going to have to notch the bellhousing in order to give me enough clearance to drain the oil. Has anyone else run into this? I'm not at all thrilled with having to cut into the bellhousing, but can't think of any other options. I can;t use a different pan (at least not without significant cost) as I already drilled and tapped the pan for an oil return line for my supercharger. Any ideas or other solutions are appreciated.

Raphs50

I found a couple articles in other forums, where others have had this same issue. Looks like putting a notch in the block plate and bellhousing is the fix. Thought about a shorter drain plug, but I don't want to lose the magnet that catches little metal pieces, and every oil change will be a mess with the bolck plate sitting 1/2 an inch from the oil drain. Guess I will start grinding away tonight.

mjr46

just notch it, I had to modify my spacer plate with my moroso 7 qt pan