My son recentley bought a 1996 Z28 with a LT1, 6 speed manual. We started to fix a leak at the timing chain cover and decided we would put a new cam in. We tore the oil pan gasket that is attached to the bottom of the timing cover and now have to replace it.. I've jacked up the car and good grief. I'm used to working on older cars. It's not looking to good. Can anyone give me some advice on the best way to replace the oil pan gasket along with the timing chain cover?

 

Remove both motor mount bolts and use a cherry picket to lift the engine a few inches. It is tight getting the pan off but I have done it a few times in that manner.

 

It will be much easier if you just pull the motor, (that's what I did) but you can do it rclearyiiis way as well. I would say again to just pull the motor because then you will be able to clean & change out anything & everything that you want to!!!! It's a dam shame that you have to go through all that work just to change out an oil pan gasket. Good luck.

 

Should the timing chain cover be installed before the oil pan gasket?

 

Yes

 

No need to remove the pan. Take the pan bolts out and drop the pan as far as you can. Finish the timing cover. Cut the pan gasket off. Get a felpro one piece blue rubber gasket,carefully strech it around the pan and carefully flip it up on to the pan rails. Thats one way to change the pan gasket. Another way is to tie some wire on the ends and sides of the gasket and fish it down and around the pump pick-up It's not as hard as it sounds. I did it on my truck. Good luck.

 

RUDEDOG is correct I replaced a few timing chain cover gaskets and a few oil pan gaskets as well.... It is not fun, but I loosen all the pan bolts and remove the bolts in the front of the pan the space gained is enough to install the cover,

By removing all the pan bolts you can replace the pan gasket either by cutting a the gasket or doing the full one piece fish under the oil pick-up.

Either way PIA unless ur on a hoist.

 

I just did mine yesterday so if you have any questions hit me up... I unbolted the 2 motor mount bolts that run pallel with the car and knocked them out with a hammer. Then I put a jack under the transmission, directly behind the pan about 3 to 4 inches, and jacked it up until it made light contact with the body. I already had the oil cooler off and then you unbolt the pan. I read this post prior to doing it and tried to fish it through but didn't have the clearance for my hands to help it along. If you take the gasket and put it up to the bottom of the oil pan and keep the metal reinforced sides straight you can gently 'stretch' the front and back side of the gasket enough to flip it up and over the edges of the oil pan all the way around. The most difficult part was getting the dipstick tube through the hold in the gasket since mine would not come out. Cutting the gasket would probably work but if you have gone through this much labor already, I wouldn't want to risk it failing when it is all back together. RUDEDOG is correct, you do not need to remove the pan or drop the K member