[triathlonx13]

Patty (Canton Racing Inc.)

I received my Oil Pan back last night from your company. Ironically I received my latest issue of High Performance Pontiac magazine that afternoon as well. In the Tech Question and Answers section in the back of the December 2007 issue on pages 96 and 97 an issue was being discussed. Jim Taylor responded by commenting about the design of the 3 & 5 tab type rubber gaskets and problems with the Pontiac and 3 party designed pans. (refer to attached PDF file)

As the story told by Joel Babineau in the article, I to had pulled my motor twice only to send my pan back to your company for a inspection. At no time was I told that the pan design was poor and that this was a common issue. I would expect that after experiencing my testimony and an article that had reached High Performance Pontiac that something could be done. Furthermore, no directions about how to remedy a leaking pan or steps to ensure proper sealing were include with your product. I think a set of fully detail instructions and notifications of potential leak conditions need to be included in your Pontiac designed pans as an interim step until a new design change can be made.

With all things understood about car restoration, racing, and modifications - some allowances need to be understood. In this case I think something was missed on the part of Canton Racing, Inc.

First lets look at the cost of not having proper advanced notice of problems that might occur, detailed instructions of sealing pan to block, and gasket item list (excluding the 3 tab rubber gasket and instruction to use a cork gasket).

See what has been done and what it has cost me....
Cost of paying for first installation of the pan by my engine builder: What's the time involved? an hour...? could be more = $60 per/hr?
Gasket set used the first time. (APROX.) = $20
Silicone adhesive (APROX.) = $10
Materials and labor for the installation cost approximately a total of $90.

Engine installed the First time... pan leaks. OK - now I have to fix the leaking pan.
My time to remove engine = 6 hrs (let's say it's worth $30 per/hr = $180)
My time to remove gaskets and pan = 1 hrs (let's say it's worth $30 per/hr = $30)
My time to reinstall new gaskets and silicone = 1 hrs (let's say it's worth $30 per/hr = $30)
Cost of new pan gaskets (APROX.) = $20
Cost of new Silicone adhesive (APROX.) = $10
My time to re-install engine = 8 hrs (let's say it's worth $30 per/hr = $240)
Cost of new header gaskets = $15
Cost of new Carb gasket = $7
Cost of new oil filter adapter gasket = $5
Cost of engine oil = (8 qrts) = $24
Misc paints, cleaners, wire components (APROX) = $12
Engine installed the Second time... pan leaks. OK - now I have to fix the leaking pan again.

My time to remove engine a second time = 6 hrs (let's say it's worth $30 per/hr = $180)
My time to remove gaskets and pan a second time = 1 hrs (let's say it's worth $30 per/hr = $30)
My time to reinstall new gaskets and silicone a second time = 1 hrs (let's say it's worth $30 per/hr = $30)
Cost of new pan gaskets (APROX.) = $20
Cost of new Silicone adhesive (APROX.) = $10
Cost to ship pan to your company = $20
My time to re-install engine a second time = 8 hrs (let's say it's worth $30 per/hr = $240)
Cost of new header gaskets = $15
Cost of new Carb gasket = $7
Cost of new oil filter adapter gasket = $5
Cost of engine oil = (8 qrts) = $24
Misc paints, cleaners, wire components (APROX) = $12
* new costs yet to be accumulated.

OK - Hopefully Canton Racing Inc is starting to get an idea of the time and cost involved. (Approximately = $1,256) Pretty extreme is what I'm thinking. Plus, to make things worse then this... I missed out on 2 months of track/season time.

In addition to the article I will add that the concentricity of the rear pan radius to block cap radius in not achieved with your design when gasket thickness is taken into consideration. The not concentric gap do not support a uniform compression force along the sealing surface.

As you can now imagine a leaky pan is a fairly large problem that has been frustrating, costly, and discouraging.