I've had the 350 out of my 68 Cutlass for going on a year now. I'm considering different oil pan options and am wondering how far the rear sump area hangs down for the different options (stock SB, stock BB, increased capacity aftermarket, etc...). I'm sure motor mount condition causes some variation, but it would be great if someone had pictures and/or measurements for this area.

Thanks.

 

BBO and SBO pans are the same externally except for the two "bump-outs" that facilitate installing the baffle on the BBO pans. Either pan fits either BBO or SBO.

 

As Joe said, you shouldn't have any clearance problems with any available pan.
Well, mostly.
Almost every pan on the market is designed to work with a stock frame and mounts. There are a couple of boat or drag-only pans that obviously won't fit - they're completely flat on the bottom.
It's really your choice on what kind of sump shape you want and how far down. Some are lower than others, some are wider than others. A lowered car can smack a deep pan onto the ground. Some can make life easier or harder with different headers or starters. But in the end there's not a whole lot of variability on Olds oil pans. Some have better baffles, some have better construction. Just depends on what you want and how much you want to spend.

 

Thanks. I understand that most (non-marine) pans will fit this chassis. I'm still wondering how much the sump on a stock small block w/ small block pan hangs down in relation to the crossmember...above it, even, below, etc...?

 

The stock pans are roughly even with the crossmember or stay just slightly above. Aftermarket extra capacity pans are usually ~1" below the crossmember at the back of the pan. The "big block" stock pan has a different shape than the "small block" pan but I'm pretty certain the overall depth is about the same. The small block is just a very rectangular sump while the big block slopes more up to the front which gives more capacity but also needs a baffle to keep the oil from just sloshing forward.