I have a '64 Buick Skylark (It's still an A-body) with a weird problem. First off, it's a 350 with a stock-type pan. The car has manual steering. Here's the problem, both sides where the tie rods go into the back of the drag link will contact the oil pan. It was forced by the previous owner and has put 2 dents about 3/8 - 7/16 deep on both sides of the pan. Does this make sense? Is there a conflict with using a stock-type pan with this combination? Is there a chance the steering stops are missing? I hope I'm not the first to find this out. Any help would be appreciated, as I don't want to damage anything more than it already is.

sounds like the wrong oil pan

Easy solution is to mount the inner tie rods from the front of the drag link as opposed to the back where they are now.

I already thought about turning the tie rods over, but it doesn't work that way. 1. You just don't do that, 2 the pitmann and idler arm are in the way. I had figured that was out of the question but it was a thought that had just wandered across my mind as a "You know, it would work if...". I'm also pretty sure a SBC oil pan is the same shape as the next one as long as it is not a Monza or early Chevy II.

actually there are different oil pans for small blocks, I don't know how many different ones, but there are a few