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-   -   Canton early GTO pan (https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=885868)

i82much 06-16-2026 10:37 AM

Canton early GTO pan
 
Hi all,

I have a leaky Milodon pan in my 65. It's an IA2 block, years ago the engine builder told me the dipstick on the milodon ran into the wider main cap on the IA2 so he made some kind of provision to move the dipstick location. That provision has always leaked and seemed kind of hackish to me.

I was thinking about getting the Canton early GTO pan and associated dipstick. Any thoughts on how well this will work out?

https://butlerperformance.com/i-2445...tegory:1234746

Fairly early IA2 block if that makes a difference.

Thanks!
Steve

Joe-Touring 06-16-2026 11:05 AM

If you can run a factory windage tray or make a bracket for the lower dipstick tube, you should be able to run the factory dipstick. Not sure if either of those are possible on your block.

All you have to do is mock up the pan and dipstick, mark where the dipstick hits the baffle, and drill a hole.

Post 26 shows a pic of the modified pan:

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...n+pan+dipstick

Mike Davis 06-16-2026 11:06 AM

I run that pan on my 65 and 66 but I am running a stock block with billet caps. Good pan. Just make sure you take the trap door out of it and clean it well. Mine had a bunch of little debris in it.

i82much 06-16-2026 11:18 AM

I was going to run the Canton dipstick, not the factory one:

https://butlerperformance.com/i-2445...an-20-850.html

Joe-Touring 06-16-2026 01:32 PM

Ah. Was just letting you know the factory stick is an option. I’ve heard setting up the Canton stick can be a chore. Fitting it around the headers and whatnot. Make sure you keep the bends in a single plane, the dipstick only wants to bend one way.

Here’s another thread for ya:

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...anton+dipstick

i82much 06-16-2026 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe-Touring (Post 6620284)
Ah. Was just letting you know the factory stick is an option. I’ve heard setting up the Canton stick can be a chore. Fitting it around the headers and whatnot. Make sure you keep the bends in a single plane, the dipstick only wants to bend one way.

Here’s another thread for ya:

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...anton+dipstick

Thank you! I think I'd rather bend the canton tube than try to make the stock dipstick work. Good winter project!

AG 06-16-2026 07:35 PM

You are better off running a Canton pan with the dipstick provision and separate dipstick. Stock type will not work on an IAII block because of the cap interference. I don't run a dipstick on my race car, as long as you don't have any leaks it doesn't matter.

ID67goat 06-17-2026 03:20 AM

I have the Canton pan on my car, but with the headers on there I am just not sure that the Canton dipstick would work. It would be nice to see if someone on here has had success using it.

I

chuckies76ta 06-17-2026 08:32 AM

I have the canton pan on an IA2 engine. All I did was plug the oil dip stick hole that comes on the pan and I welded a fitting for my own oil tube away from the headers. Nothing a welder can't fix. I bought some internal threaded tubing, cut it on a 60 degree angle and welded in the side of the pan. you can put water in the pan to simulate oil level and mount where needed. Cap off the original engine oil tube. Get yourself a flexable Lokar oil dipstick. It will screw into your install fitting.
https://www.amazon.ca/PATIKIL-Stainl..._source=1&th=1
https://lokar.com/shop/engine-access...dipsticks.html

Skip Fix 06-17-2026 10:23 AM

5 Attachment(s)
Here are some pictures of my IA and a factory dipstick and Canton pan. I have heard the old Canton pans had a hole in the bottom tray but the newer ones do not. I have drilled them on the 3 I have. I did have to grind a little on the IA main cap.
Second set are on a early GTO pan I extend the front of the sump forward for an F body (GTO pan is deeper)but you can see the hole in the tray

Skip Fix 06-17-2026 10:26 AM

2 Attachment(s)
Here is one on the F body in the 455 in the 78 TA now . Both 455 use 2 bolt caps and a factory tray so no cap issues just pan tray needed drilling. Put it together then slid the dip stick down and saw where it rubbed the tray and drilled.

jerry455 06-18-2026 10:36 PM

I am using the Canton dipstick on my Canton pan. It fits pretty well. I have it running between the header tubes.

i82much 06-19-2026 09:21 AM

Well I guess another way to ask it is this. If you had an IA2 in a 65 GTO street car with round port doug's headers, what oil pan would you run? Is there anything better than the Canton?

Skip Fix 06-19-2026 12:09 PM

If you are doing and cornering Canton is the way to go. I am reusing a GTO pan I got with a motor on the 400 I'm building for the 65 and is deeper but only has a larger factory style baffle. Moroso 20500.

i82much 06-19-2026 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Fix (Post 6620754)
If you are doing and cornering Canton is the way to go. I am reusing a GTO pan I got with a motor on the 400 I'm building for the 65 and is deeper but only has a larger factory style baffle. Moroso 20500.

Thanks Skip. If I am taking a corner at high speed then something has gone horribly wrong and at that point I'm just hoping the insurance company pays for the car to get fixed up before my kid inherits it!!!

Still the Canton seems like the best bet to me.

Mike Davis 06-19-2026 11:11 PM

The Canton pan is the best one for a stock frame GTO. Like mentioned I am running one on my 65 and my 66. 421 CID shifting at 7200-7400 and no issues. Oil pressure stays solid and doesn't drop on decel. I am running a stock block, forged 4" stroke 990 crank, Tomahawk windage tray and scraper.

Skip Fix 06-20-2026 09:12 AM

Here is a thread I reopened after playing with this pan again. It was a pan for road racing recommended in all the Pontiac magazines years ago. With E heads and oil in the top of the engine and hitting the brakes hard on the top end to make the turn off oil pressure would visibly drop. I think with their short tray it was spilling over the tap door wall. Not sure how this Moroso deep GTO pan I have will do but I had it and not going to be a hard core ride.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...d.php?t=506869


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