i did check that there was clearance to the bottom of the pan. however, the engine was on a cherry picker with a tire underneath it, and i came out the next morning, and the engine was on the tire. there was still plenty of tension on the chain, so the entire weight of the engine was not resting on the pan.

i didn't think much of it, (because the entire weight of the engine wasn't on the pan), and put the engine in. it was only after it was installed that i noticed the pan was slightly dented in. it didn't seem that bad at all, so i decided i would leave it and deal with it later. never occurred to me that it might have pushed the pan into the pickup and stressed it.

i haven't cleaned out the pan to investigate the bottom of it yet. i assume that if it did contact the bottom of the pan enough to stress it, there will be marks on the inside of the pan, so hopefully that will show me something.