Is there really a plate between the motor and the oil pan???

[grizzy225]

Once again my mr2 fails to mess up yet again... after getting that guy (my boyfriends friend) to install the new motor that i ordered from cns, the mechanic comes to me with a surprising discovery... there is a plate in between the bottom of the motor and the oil pan????????

i have no idea where or what it came from, according to the parts guys here at toyota, the camry and the mr2 motor are the same, well according to them AND cns... i really need help the mechanics finished the job of course but they didnt put the new oil pan i ordered on so it has a leak on a new engine i cant have that...

question:
can i remove that plate and just mount the new (mr2) oil pan to it, or will this cause more complications down the road? (starting issues, leaking, smoking or any other)

and where can i find the vin number of the motor??? im so lost...

thanks in advance
-janice

[wagonis]

Hm, let me check the BGB.

[shimric]

I believe their is. It's been some years since I took my oil pan off, but I'm about 90% sure. I know their is a plate IN the oil pan, to keep the all of the oil from getting away from the pickup. Maybe that's what he's talking about?

I'm thinking their is a plate at the bottom of the motor as well.

ps. motors don't have VIN's.

[grizzy225]

yeah i know about that one, the plate i a curve shape, and it sits about the deeper end of the oil pan, right... but this "plate they are talking about has me all confused... they said it is sandwiched between the motor and the oil pan... and they didnt remove it so they banged it in(the oil pan that was on the motor) so it wouldnt hit my exhaust now i have a lovely leak and some smoke... greeat... :sarcasm:

i bought a new oil pan but im afraid to have them remove that plate(if they could) because of potential complications...

and are they the same camry and mr2 motor?
vin location? with this at least i can find out whether or not they even sent me the right motor....

-janice

[grizzy225]

the number that labels the motor... lets you know what type it really is... silly

[wagonis]

Here is a breakdown of the oil pan:

[grizzy225]

thats the exact print out i got here at work for both the camry and the mr2... ??? im still confused as to what other possible plate he could be talking about... they guys then told me to get the number off the motor and they would be able to tell me exactly what i have, is this true...?

[Ben]

Originally Posted by shimric

ps. motors don't have VIN's.

Motors do have VIN plates on them. It is on the engine block facing the back of the car (3SGTE). It is engraved on a plate and is riveted on. The 5S should have a plate on it as well on the block.

I believe you are talking about the oil baffle plate that can be seen in Wagonis' picture.

[grizzy225]

.

[grizzy225]

are you guys as stumped as me?? lol

[PearlJammzz]

I am failing to see where the confusion is. The motor is from a MR2 yes? I can't imagine the oil pan/pickup being really any different between that and the Camry regardless.

I just had mine off, and while it is a PITA to get that oil pan manuevered around the exhaust (just unbolted off headers and pulled ot the side) it wasn't that much of a PITA to get it around the baffle and everything fit perfectly.

It's really pretty easy. Looses the lug nuts on a wheel, jack it up, unbolt the exhaust off the headers, and unscrew almost all the oil pan bolts. Keep 1-2 one and have a friend come pull the exhaust down and out of the way (quite hard, might be easier to just remove more of it but I am afraid the cross member must be dropped for this which is a PITA) and you unbolt the last couple of bolts and pull/pry the old one off.

Once you have it off, discard it to the side and clean the bottom of the block where the oil pan meets it. Clean it well! Usually a putty knife and some engine degreeser on some shop towles is requires. Once you have that all cleaned, make youself a gasket using RTV on the new oil pan (make sure this is clean too. Brake parts cleaner works well and doesn't leave residue) and push it back up there and start bolting it in from the middle on either side, to the outside if that makes sense. Start with the middle bolt on each side, then work opposite ways on each side till you come full circle. These don't needa be torqued town, just tight. Let it chill for a good ~12-24hrs and yer good to go.

Oh, and never go back to the last mechanic you had?

[tjmr2]

Whoa time out: I just finished a Black Top Conversion..into an 89 MK1. My engine came out of an 95 AE111 Levin (Japanese Corolla). It came with an aluminum heat shield plate that was bolted to the transaxle and extended about half way across the outside of the pan. It would not fit with the 16 valve header and was discarded.

There is indeed supposed to be a plate (actual term "Windage Tray") between the oil pan and the engine. It has slots cut in it to allow the oil to flow back down into the oil pan where the pump can pick it up. It's job is to keep the crankshaft from whipping the oil into foam.

It's a necessary part, and all the holes in it should line up with the ones that allow the bolts to attach the pan to the engine. No "gasket" is used as the factory uses "form in place gasket material". "Ultra Black or Ultra Blue" available at any auto parts store have worked well for me.

The oil pan and windage tray should bolt right on, without interference from the exhaust.

[grizzy225]

Interesting. Anyone have a more specific location of the engines vin. Little more detailed then "the back of the motor". That would help a million to help me actually find out exactly what i have before i take it apart

[Gairloch]

My thinking matches yours almost exactly, Tim. On the Mk II the exhaust can actually get in the way of the oil pan though. The pickup extends in through a windage tray that makes it hard to maneuver around the exhaust.

This extra windage tray is not necessary because there should be a windage tray built into the oilpan already. If it's interfering with you being able to put a proper oil pan on the motor I would remove it.

EDIT: I have a block sitting in my garage. If I remember to do it I'll scope out where that vin is stamped.

[grizzy225]

Think you guys are getting mixed up.. the oil pan on there NOW is the supposedly Camry pan. The MR2 one didn't fit because something is hitting the oil pan in the attachment i posted above

[Gairloch]

No, I know exactly what you're saying. What I'm suggesting you consider doing is to take off the dented up leaky camry pan, take off the windage tray (if that's what it is) then put the OE MR2 pan on per the BGB instructions.

[Ben]

Originally Posted by grizzy225

Interesting. Anyone have a more specific location of the engines vin. Little more detailed then "the back of the motor". That would help a million to help me actually find out exactly what i have before i take it apart

For the 3SGTE, there is a VIN plate on the back of the block on the bottom near the oil pan. It is either on the timing belt side or the transmission side (I can't remember). So on the bottom corner of the block. There is also a VIN plate on the transmission on the differential case around where the drivers side axle comes out.

VIN of the 5S is on the top of the block, right side of the oil filter.

[grizzy225]

awsome thanks! If there is a plate can i take it off? or will it cause problems

[Ben]

Alright, I was wrong about the VIN location on the 5S (red circle). The plate is riveted on, so you have to cut it off.

[grizzy225]

very very nice.. so its if the 5s it will be on the plate.. 3s will be on intake side lower near oilpan