4fords

One of my cars developed a small crack in the bottom of the oil pan during the trip last week to San Diego and I had to have the thing welded up for the return trip to AZ. Without going into a lot of detail it could have easily trashed the motor.

The pan was one of the Melodon with the welded in pieces to extrend it out on the sides.

I had actually considered not using it during the motor build because all the welds looked like a weak link in the thing from the start.

No dent No hit it just cracked next to a weld from vibration and the weight of the oil banging around. Had less than 5 thousand miles on the motor and pan.

Hind sight being 20 20, anyone else have experience with the Melodon fabricated welded together oil pans (issues)?

uedlose

I run Moroso pans and have never had any issues with mine is the same way with all the welds.

67mustang302

There's no way you could tell a weld was a weak link unless you have x-ray vision or it's obviously contaminated. Regardless, you should contact them and have them replace it. Occasionally a defective part goes out the door.

Does your engine vibrate a lot?

4fords

No idea why it cracked the eng has always ran without any vibration its a 70 429 cobra jet motor that has been ballanced with less than 5000 miles on the motor.
I talked to the one of the shop guys that I had do the work since I had no way to do it he went ahead and rewelded the pan inside at the original weld locations. Like I said we both looked it over no dings from rocks dents etc.

67mustang302

Did you torque the pan down with the torque sequence, or just bolt it on? I suppose it's possible if it were just tightened down that it could have stressed from thermal expansion and cracked.