Preferred Oil Pan Gasket

[SHELB66]

Is there a preferred oil pan gasket for the '66 Shelby?  I'll be having some work done on my Hertz and may need to source a part or two.  Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Craig R.

[jk66gt350]

I asked this question a few years ago and was told the following gasket was highly recommended. FelPro part number OS1326OT I used it on my oil pan and it worked great and I've never had a leak in the last 5-6 years. 

[98SVT - was 06GT]

I still like cork oil pan and valve cover gaskets. I glue them to the pan or VC then put a light film of grease on the exposed side. That makes it so it won't stick to the block or head and you can adj the valves (or check the bearings) without destroying the gasket.

[Bob Gaines]

Is there a preferred oil pan gasket for the '66 Shelby?  I'll be having some work done on my Hertz and may need to source a part or two.  Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Craig R.

It depends if you are concerned about the original look or not. The blue color of the Fel Pro OS1326OT oil pan gasket screams aftermarket but is a good modern replacement. Where as a cork gasket blends into that assemblyline vib.

[jk66gt350]

Totally agree.  The reason I used the Felpro was I had issues with the cork gasket that was on it.  I am also not planning to have the car judge so functionality was more important than looks to me.

[SHELB66]

Thanks everyone!  Since functionality is the key for me I'll probably go with the FelPro.  My car is "leak city" as I'm faced with a stripped oil pan plug hole, leaking rear main seal, and leaky trans due to what I believe to be a bad shifter shaft seal.  It should all be taken care of within a couple of months.  Turns out this will be the perfect time to get my correct HiPo trans finally installed in my car.  I came across a freshly rebuilt trans several years ago that actually came out of a '66 Hertz!

Craig R.

[FL SAAC]

brand, definitely FELPRO that would be my choice

which one would I use ?

Depends on how CONCURIOUS you are


Me, I would go with their blue oil pan gasket

But if in a "judged" event, once they look at your oil pan, the monkey poo will get flung and it's back to your zoo cell, no bananas for you

The cork gasket is the original type used and will last a good long time

wishing you the very best with what ever decision you decide to go with

have a great day, laters !

[deathsled]

Thanks everyone!  Since functionality is the key for me I'll probably go with the FelPro.  My car is "leak city" as I'm faced with a stripped oil pan plug hole, leaking rear main seal, and leaky trans due to what I believe to be a bad shifter shaft seal.  It should all be taken care of within a couple of months.  Turns out this will be the perfect time to get my correct HiPo trans finally installed in my car.  I came across a freshly rebuilt trans several years ago that actually came out of a '66 Hertz!

Craig R.

What a great find!  Like finding Inca gold when various rare pieces are found.

[Karguy]

Just out of curiosity, exactly what pan gaskets did come originally on a 66 Shelby? Were the aluminum cobra oil pans installed at SA or San Jose?
Thanks

[Bob Gaines]

Just out of curiosity, exactly what pan gaskets did come originally on a 66 Shelby? Were the aluminum cobra oil pans installed at SA or San Jose?
Thanks

Cork gasket was what was put on all of them in 65/66 regardless of if done at SA or Cleveland engine plant. Some were done at both places from the evidence.

[shelbydoug]

To me there was no secret that the Cobra aluminum oil pans had issues with leaking at the gasket and through the bolt holes in the pan. The oil will run down and stain the aluminum. Then you will have the issue of how to clean it?

The cork gasket is really the culprit. Functionally the Felpro one piece is far superior to the cork.



At some point, I personally got so disparaged by the mess on the aluminum that I eventually removed the Cobra pan and put on a steel racing pan.

The staining on the aluminum from the cooked oil seems to get to the point that no matter what you do, you can't get the stains out? I was to the point of using oven cleaner and the porosity of the castings did not help anything at all.



One of the things people look for on the '65 and '66 GT350's is the Cobra oil pan. It is retty much unique throughout the US car industry. If you actually want to drive the car and REDUCE the mess on it, the Felpro is a good compromise. Frankly, people are looking for the pan, not the gasket.

I'm not sure that you can actually eliminate it entirely with any gasket? The expansion of the aluminum as it heats up has much to do with that as well but it seems to really be beyond the ability of the cork to handle it even acceptably?



I suppose that one could make the observation that a leaking pan is so common that it is in fact "original" to the car? Some can make a case for that.