Darn Rust Belt Crap!

[1FaastC10]

i pulled the trans out of my '86yesterday, because it needed replaced (no 3rd or 4th gear) and decided to start taking the AIR system off of it. upon taking the trans out, i put a jackstand under the oil pan, just like i have always done. when i let the engine down, the pan crushed right around the head of the jackstand. i've never had a problem like this before. so now, lucky me, i get to pull the motor out to replace the oil pan. why is it that every time i get a seemingly small project like this, it turns into something major? thanks for letting me vent... im going back to the garage now, hopefully things wont get worse.