Are the main bearing caps interchangable?

[Canyonero]

My LX9 has a windage tray and cross bolted mains, but those won't clear a 4x4 oil pan. The clearances to my front axle and steering are such that I don't think I could reshape the aluminum oil pan and still keep the windage tray either.

Can I use the bearing caps and bolts from a 1st Gen engine on the LX9 so that the steel pan will clear?

[95Grand-Am]

If you switch them you should have it line bored or you might have main bearing problem.

[geoffinbc]

You cant switch pans. The bolt pattern on the pan rail is not the same. You need to modify the aluminum pan and if need be section the windage tray.

[Canyonero]

I noticed that, but why not drill and tap new holes in the block?

[geoffinbc]

Yea that might work. Just make sure the pan rail is the same shape so your gasket seals up.

[Canyonero]

Looked like it would work. I'll just kick the sides out of the pan a bit to clear the wider caps. Shouldn't be much trouble. Still have to omit the windage tray.

[geoffinbc]

A DOHC windage tray tray works on a 4X4 pan with some massaging in 2 spots. An oxy torch to warm it up is all that would be needed once you warm up the areas you could simply push the pan down to form it to the tray. Then put the gasket on and you would have a bit of clearance. How far out is the gen III tray?