I would love to cure my oil leak from years ago. I ripped the gasket installing the cam. I am confident doing just about anything to the top end. I am not certain about changing the oil pan gasket. I would like to know detailed instructions for this? I have heard some people say you can just lower the oil pan and put in a new gasket after removing the old one first. I wouldn't imagine it would be this easy.

Thanks for the advice & tips:

ZMAN Z28

 

Getting the pan off is the challenge. You may need to lift the engine or drop the cross member to get the pan down enough to get the fresh gasket in. Also GM applies RTV to the to the transition areas where the block meets the front/rear supports. You need to clean off all the RTV. I like the Felpro gasket better than the GM one, but the GM gasket is still a nice piece. The Felpro instruction state to put the new gasket on dry (no RTV); it also has integrated spacers to prevent from crushing the new gasket.

 

I wasn't about to half pull the motor to replace the gasket so I just cut it on one side at a long diagonal and assembled with sealant over the cut after dropping the pan as far as it would fall and removing the old gasket. Works great. I found out later you don't even have to do that, you can pull the new gasket over the pan without cutting it, or so I'm told.

 

I had to take off the flywheel cover and the oil filter to get the pan off. You'll also want to jack the motor up. I used the felpro gasket and just slid it over the pan. Clean up the block and pan as much as possible before installing the new gasket.

 

I have done it 2 times and it really isnt too bad of a job. One thing to remember is to remove low oil sensor from pan first, because when you lower the pan the oil pump tube will break it off.

Once engine is lifted and supported properly, remove oil pan bolts, drop pan down, remove old gasket. Clean pan and engine block with razor blade, brake cleaner, and a rag.

Now place new pan gasket around the pan on the side where the bolts go, then work one side of the pan gasket over onto the sealing side of the pan, then work the other side of the pan gasket over onto the sealing side of the pan. Now pan gasket is in proper place and no cutting is needed.

Bolt pan in place, lower motor, install motor mount bolts.

To sum it up, it can be done by just lowering pan (not removing) though it is kinda hard to work your hands in that small area for clean up. Cutting pan gasket is not necessary. And definately remember to support engine properly so that it doesnt fall down and you loose a finger or hand.

 

Thanks

Z

 

I dropped the pan completely as I was changing the oil pump. Just drop the pan down a little, remove old gasket and clean as necessary, put new gasket in place on pan and RTV as/where necessary (corners, timing cover, rear etc). Line up with pan bolts and button up. Its nicer with another set of hands as is anything on these cars but I managed to get it done myself in about an hour or so.