[darien87]

After learning that the Q50 has a plastic oil pan, I've been a little leery about the safety of the undercarriage of this car.

Reading about the fiasco that dal3_gribble went through after hitting a piece of wood on the freeway convinced me that I needed to do something to protect the oil pan. So I asked the wife for the Z1 undershroud for X-mas. It finally showed up yesterday. I know this thing isn't bulletproof or anything, but it makes me feel better, especially with the car being lowered.

Installation was super easy, other than installing the Riv nuts. Never done that before and the tool that Z1 gives you to do it is a joke. Installing riv nuts with 2 wrenches while laying on your back is stupid. Other than that the process was super simple.

 

[Kraken]

I would highly suggest installing a billet oil pan from Dropbear, llc. They are currently organizing a group buy and I signed up.

Dropbearllc

We are opening up a group buy order of RWD oil pans for the VR30. There will be 10 spots. Price will be discounted to $650 shipped to lower 48 states. If you would like one please comment below. We...

www.facebook.com

 

[IridiumRS400]

I would highly suggest installing a billet oil pan from Dropbear, llc. They are currently organizing a group buy and I signed up.

That's what I did. The Dropbear oil pan is Aluminum, so it still can be punctured, however, it is less susceptible to stripping out of the drain plug insert, unlike the OEM composite pan. It adds 1 quart of oil capacity, and if you track and/or Auto-X your Q, the Dropbear pan also has better fluid damming around the oil pickup to prevent potential oil starvation.

 

[darien87]

I would highly suggest installing a billet oil pan from Dropbear, llc. They are currently organizing a group buy and I signed up.

Dropbearllc

We are opening up a group buy order of RWD oil pans for the VR30. There will be 10 spots. Price will be discounted to $650 shipped to lower 48 states. If you would like one please comment below. We...

www.facebook.com

$650? Yikes.

 

[Kraken]

$650? Yikes.

$30k or losing your car... Yikes...

 

[darien87]

It's crazy to me that replacing the engine costs more than the car.

 

[IridiumRS400]

It's crazy to me that replacing the engine costs more than the car.

Yup.

 

[Kraken]

I would highly suggest installing a billet oil pan from Dropbear, llc. They are currently organizing a group buy and I signed up.

Dropbearllc

We are opening up a group buy order of RWD oil pans for the VR30. There will be 10 spots. Price will be discounted to $650 shipped to lower 48 states. If you would like one please comment below. We...

www.facebook.com

Went ahead and ordered the Z1 aluminum oil pan and undershroud with a new gasket. Do I need to use anything on the gasket when installing? Also, Can someone please share the proper riv nut tool on Amazon? I need to order it asap as I'll be hitting the road on Friday afternoon and want to get all this installed in advance. TIA

 

[darien87]

Went ahead and ordered the Z1 aluminum oil pan and undershroud with a new gasket. Do I need to use anything on the gasket when installing? Also, Can someone please share the proper riv nut tool on Amazon? I need to order it asap as I'll be hitting the road on Friday afternoon and want to get all this installed in advance. TIA

If you won't ever be installing rivnuts again, I'm not sure I'd buy the tool. Might be better to just suffer through using the supplied one rather than buying something you'll never use again. Do you have a friend that's got one you could borrow?

 

[Kraken]

Good deal. Thanks for the advice. I don't know anyone locally. Z1 specified the oil pan gasket gets installed with no silicone, etc.

 

[darien87]

Good deal. Thanks for the advice. I don't know anyone locally. Z1 specified the oil pan gasket gets installed with no silicone, etc.

Just try what I noted in Nick's thread. Don't drill the holes out all the way. Try using a 3/8" bit so you can tap the rivnuts in and have them be a little snug. That way you're not fighting gravity trying to pull them back out.

Then, keep your hands close together, (about 30 degree angle) when you're using the tool. I found this enabled me to put a lot more torque on it. Hopefully my crude drawing makes sense.

 

[Kraken]

That helps. Much appreciated 👍Waiting on the parts to get here as I'm due for an oil change and want to get everything installed for my road trip this weekend

 

[darien87]

How'd the install go?

 

[Scarlet RaceCar]

Have we confirmed Drop Bear is compatible Z1 undershroud?

 

[Q50Wolf]

Have we confirmed Drop Bear is compatible Z1 undershroud?

Yes, you’ll need to shave down one of the screws for the service panel to ensure the screw doesn’t damage the oil pan - other than that, perfect fit. The Drop Bear oil pan is beautiful and high quality.

 

[Kraken]

How'd the install go?

The Z1 oil pan install was easy. Didn't want to wait for the Dropbear group buy. Be sure to have an in.-lb. torque wrench, extensions and a new oil pan gasket RWD or AWD. They are required for the install. Here is the installation diagram

 

[[email protected]]

The Drop Bear oil pan is beautiful and high quality.

I’m looking forward to their next RWD run and picking up one. Would I need / want an under shroud with the Drop Bear oil pan - the weak point of the OEM plastic oil pan being moot now?!?

 

[Q50Wolf]

I’m looking forward to their next RWD run and picking up one. Would I need / want an under shroud with the Drop Bear oil pan - the weak point of the OEM plastic oil pan being moot now?!?

Valid point…piece of mind for me knowing it’s protected as it’s not a cheap modification.

 

[[email protected]]

…it’s not a cheap modification.

Truer words have never been spoken - but I am convincing myself it is a dual mod investment - increased oil capacity as well as removing a potential OEM failure point.

 

[Scarlet RaceCar]

Yes, you’ll need to shave down one of the screws for the service panel to ensure the screw doesn’t damage the oil pan - other than that, perfect fit. The Drop Bear oil pan is beautiful and high quality.

That's right! TY