Oil Pan Removal?

[kombreeze]

My neighbor finally got himself a shortbed last week. We discovered a major oil leak from the pan and I wanted to know the easiest way to remove and replace the gasket. Drive way style....LOL Just want to know what he'll get himself in before he tackles it. I pruposed removing the engine and trans anyway to clean and replace all gaskets....However he's doing it piece by peice....so a couple of jack stands now what?

[lbpd719]

Thats a pretty labor intensive job "in the truck". I wouldn't attempt it myself.

Are you sure it's from the pan gasket and not the rear main seal? Maybe he should clean it all off and try to determine the source first.. Could also be at the timing chain cover and look like it's from there to.

Oil moves so well it's really hard to know for sure on something thats been leaking for a while. I am near by, PM if you need hands when starting on it.

[cdowns]

unbolt the engine towers and lift or jack the engine high enough to get a short piece of 2X4 on the frame rail under the tower that will give enough clearance to get the pan out// it makes the job ALOT easier if he spends the extra money for the onepiece pan gasket set from felpo
not an impossible task by any means about a couple of hours for me// but like been said theres quite a few other areas it could be coming from and not the pan

[kombreeze]

If I jacked up the motor would the tranny have to come down? When lifted does the tranny interfere? Thanks for your replies.

[cdowns]

tranny will be fine theres enough flex in the mount to lift it enough to do the job

[WorkinLonghorn]

If I remember from the last time I did this,It's best to have the crank positioned so that the mark on the damper is pointed down. Also watch that the fan doesn't hit the radiator,and that the distrib isn't hitting as you raise the engine 3 inches or so.Then remove the pan to the rear,obviously.
If it was me I'd double and tripple check the exact source of the leak(s) as mentioned above. Then if it is the pan,I'd make damn sure the sealing surface on the pan was perfectly straight before I re-installed it.While you're in there you might as well replace the rear seal,maybe ensure the oil pick-up is well secured.Some people like to weld it in place.I'm not a big expert on all this but I have done it,and it wasn't too difficult.

[airdale94]

You may be able to leave the engine mounts bolted and just unbolt the trans. mount on the tailshaft. That's what I did on my 68 C20 SBC.

:Also like WorkingLonghorn said you want to rotate the crank so the first counterweight is pointing up. Might not even need to to unbolt the trans. if you have the old style pan.

[dingo_dan_22]

I did mine by unbolting the transmission and jacking the engine/trans high enough for the pan to slide out.

[dave2953]

Whenever I've had to pull mine the flywheel is what always interfered with the oil pan's removal. I did something similar to cdowns' suggestion. I loosened the bolts for the towers and jacked up the motor. It doesn't have to be raised a lot; just enough to clear the flywheel. I took my fan shroud loose to limit interference and I also loosened the transmission mount to allow some extra flex. Like others have said, don't use a cheap gasket. I (along with many others on this site) recommend the felpro one piece gasket. It's a little more coin, but WELL worth it. Just take your time and you should be fine. I did mine in the parking lot of my apartment complex if it makes you feel any better.

[68C15]

NAPA sells small bottles of tracer dye for engine oil. pour it in and drive it a few days. then shine a UV light around and you will see the source of the leak.