Read a couple of posts about oil pan gasket replacement in the 3.4L engine. Now the Chilton's and Hayne's both say to raise the motor from above then remove the oil pan.
Is there another way to do this than to raise the motor from above? Cuz I have no way of doing this at the moment.
For clarification, the reason I'm doing this is: Did an oil change few days ago and found what looked like gasket material in the used oil. So, I'm opening her up and replacing all the gaskets I can think of: Heads, Exhaust manifolds, Intake manifolds, Oil Pan, etc. Pretty much everything that comes in a head gasket kit plus a few more.
So, again... Is there any other way of getting the oil pan gasket redone without raising the engine from above?
And, any recommendations for my findings in the old oil?

Thanks.

 

lol
uh... ok, nevermind then.
lol

 

there are alot more gaskets than you mentioned
i doubt it would be exhaust manifolds
you sure are a motivated person, i wouldnt want to
change all the gaskets
good luck

 

Didn't think the exhaust manifold gaskets would be it either, but they come in the head gasket set so I figured why not?

Anyway, just got the driver's side head out. What a mess... there was chunks of carbon build up falling into the cylinder as I pulled it off. The job wasn't too bad, but I noticed some things... like the #4 spark plug was loose and the exhaust manifold heat shield has cracked almost in half. That solves a mystery rattle hopefully.

So, new questions...
1. Anyone have the part number for the exhaust manifold heat shields?
2. How the hell does the dipstick tube come out?
3. Anything else I can look at while she's tore down?
Thanks again, and I'm sure I'll come up with more questions as I get into the passenger's side which looks like it'll take a few days.

 

1)i could get it
2)it is held in place by a nut that connects to the exh manifold i think
you just pull it right up out of the oil pan
Took me quite a while to figure out where it went back in though LOL

I took the drivers side and passengers side off at the same time, it didnt take me extra time, they were both about equal in how hard it was to take them off.

 

1) matter of fact i'm takeing my heat shields off today...

 

Got the nut, but holy crap the dipstick just pulls out??? Feels like somebody superglued it in there then, cuz it's a stubborn sob. Maybe some marvel mystery oil will loosen it up.
Is there a problem with doing a heat shield delete?

 

i bet there is a problem with deleteing the heat shield
i use PB Blaster on stubborn nutz

 

Yeah, with my luck it'd melt something important... like the master cylinder or power steering pump.
I'll be at Autozone later on getting a valve lapper and spring compressor, so I'll check out the PB Blaster.

Any tips on cleaning and reassembling the valvetrain?

 

just pull up and turn

 

Assuming you're talking about the oil dipstick?

 

yes

 

dont know if these #s mean anything but here is the numbers off of one heat shield. It has GM stamped on it.
VRT159 1
24507677

 

Got the left head cleaned up and reassembled. Getting ready to install the head, but the book says I need a thread sealer for the head bolts. Does the black RTV that comes in the head gasket set qualify as a thread sealer?

 

i wouldnt think so. I sure wouldnt use it
I would use red thread sealer its like $5 max.
It keeps the bolts torqued down so they wont wiggle loose.