I have an 82 Indy Pace Car and getting ready to fix a backyard mechanic botch job...He installed the oil pan gasket upside down so the lip is outside the pan and it leaks in multiple areas..There is a bump out area on hte wrong side of hte pan so it's basically upside down..
I haven't done an oil pan gasket ever...any help please make a suggestion..
Also the thermostat housing has been stripped...was going to try to Re-tap it?

Thermostat housing stripped one bolt

 

get a 1 piece all rubber pan gasket-far better than the 4 piece with cork side pieces... A couple ways to fix the stripped thermostat housing bolt hole: do a "Helicoil " repair back to 3/8 16 thread or retap the hole to slightly larger metric size-M10 IIRC. may have to use socket head metric bolt.

 

Ok I got a buddy that said he can do it....I Will give you a full report...Using your directions!
Thank you!!
Todd

 

While in the process of changing the pan gasket,have a look at the cam sprocket if you can get a view of it-most original SBC cam sprockets,~1965-86,were cast aluminum with nylon teeth molded on-when these get old the nylon shrinks around the aluminum and cracks,sections can come off and make the chain very slack... much easier to pull the timing cover off if the pan is loose.