Duster 340 oil pan

70Duster340 said
Folks,

I removed the engine from my 70 Duster (it's a 340), which I plan on rebuilding. I purchased a new Milodon oil pan, which is supposed to be a stock replacement pan. Upon removing the engine and putting it on the stand, I observed that the driver's side of the oil pan has a "dimple" in it, behind the sump. The Milodon pan doesn't have this "dimple". From what I can tell the pan came that way from the factory. Does the "dimple" have some sort of function, like clearance for steering components? I need to know so I can return the Milodon pan for exchange for the correct pan.

Attached is a picture. Thanks in advance for any help here.
Click to expand...

If you look at the picture of the small block oil pan in the MP catalog,you'll notice that it comes with a "dimple " and so do the oil pans in my two 340 small block cars But as you say ,it' s probably for steering components clearance.