oil pan or something else? help

[Jz32]

hey i just put in a jdm tt motor into my z... no check lights so so far so good but there is a tick/ knock comin from around the #1 cylinder driver side. but it doesnt have this sound at immidiate start up... only after at leaft 15 min of idling and the oil thins out.
iv gathered some info and found out that its possibly (most likely) the oil pan thats dented so not enough oil is gettin pumped arond the engine... if anyone else has a theory please correct me.

my question is if some one can help me... if im laying inder the car feet towards the rear wheels, where woudl the oil pick up be in relation to lookign at the oil pan from this angle?

my point is to visually see if theres a dent/depression because i do have another pan from my other motor which i know has no dents... but if its not the oil pan i dont want to go through the hassle of changing it out. thanks any input would be awesome

[BigTDogg (MA)]

Driver side, just behind the hump, IIRC

[txQ45]

Done at lease 20 JDM engines and all needed a new oil pan .. On one that didn't look like it needed it after starting had low pressure ended up replacing...
Usually do a couple of things on a JDM engine,, change oil pan, change oil pump, change timing belt, run a can or two of Seafoam down the intake (via balance tube)
Seemed to be a good combination

[marty1mc]

What did you oil pressure look like?

[Jz32]

i still have the gauge so its hard to say an exact number but it never reaches the 60 mark but then again this isnt a daily driver yet. still only been driven maybe 3 times and extremely short distances.