You evidently had one he*l of a big tree.
Watch carefully that Road Race oil pan if you attempt to torque bolts to recommended 15 pounds. You will severely dimple it,,depending on gasket you use.
I ended up building a girdle that encircles the pan of 1/8th thick stock steel that goes between pan and bolt heads. Highly recommended. I believe that someone is now selling a kit.
Do this right, you should not need any of the silicone sealers that inhibits the removal next time.
do you know where these kits are sold? I'd love to get one, I've already had to remove my pan 3 times since I got it and the silicone is a PITA to remove, also why hasn't milodon made a reuseable gasket for the big block yet? they have them for the small block...
Rumor has it that Hughes has em. Forum member jbc426 told me last evening he just bought one. Says looks real fine. Oh yes, he also told me that his Milodon oil pan was dimpled badly when he recently tore his 496 stroker down for a bit of a refresh. That's why he bought the kit.
Here's what I built for mine a couple years ago. My Road Race had dimpled, straightened it out, used my little fix, torqued bolts to recommended 15 pounds,,studs at rear main retainer,,,long story here,,,,used no silicone and pan does not leak.
