I need to replace my oil pan. What I want to know is; is there an easier way to replace it besides removing the distributor cap, disconnecting the exhaust crossover pipe, taking off the transmission shroud, removing the starter, raising the engine and then fixing the oil pan?

 

I too have a crack in the oil pan. I have a 7 quart pan, but the depth is close to a stock pan. I have thought long and hard about how to get it off the easiest way possible. The problem is that the pump just hangs too far down in the sump to get it out other wise. And I have talked to other people about it. And as bad as it is to have to do all that crap, I'm pretty sure its the only way. That or you could just try to smear JB weld or some other epoxy metal on it and hope it works. I tried it, and there was no luck. Of course I don't know how bad your crack is. Good luck, I wish there was an easier way. Let me know if you find one.

 

i had a nice gash taken out of my oil pan i took it to midas and they welded it shut for me, havent had a problem with the weld since.

 

It's just a bloody pinhole is the thing. I'm so tempted to just weld it while its still on the car, but I really don't wanna cause an explosion :lala:

Anyway, I'll try some epoxy and let you guys know.

 

Thats what I thought about the welding thing. With the fumes and oil residue in there I don't want an explosion either.

 

Well, I mean draining the oil is simple enough, but I just wouldn't feel safe welding there no matter what precautions I took; hell, I don't even smoke in the garage. I've never worked with epoxy before, so tonight will be a learning experience. Hopefully all goes well.

 

weld it, drain the oil, remove the oil fill cap and run a hose from a running engines exhaust into the oil fill hole, displaces the air, no oxygen no fire problems

 

...excellent idea, but I would have expected a CWI to advise flooding the case with argon/CO2 fluxing gas to accomplish the same thing. Pretty creative with the exhaust gas idea.

 

Wow.. very nice. I'll be sure to try that if the JB Weld doesn't work out for me. Thanks

 

lol vader i guess the correct way would be an official welding inert gas, but i buy my own argon around my garage and i sure don't like 100 dollars a bottle for it, plus exhaust gas is free and easy since i have one flow metter. done 100s of oil pans, gas tanks, and fuel oil tanks with the exhaust gas hose and have never had a problem. if you leave a small opening in a hole somewhere you can hear the exhaust fumes sort of burping out.

 

How does that work. You can't run the car without oil, so do you use the hose from the exhaust before you drain the oil. I thought I may try this if all else fails. So if you could clarrify the process I would like that. Thanks.

 

Use another car

 

I had the same problem, i used JB weld. But, i cleaned the surface really good with some break cleaner, it hasnt leeked since.
Tim

 

one other thing when i weld someones tank that hasn't been cleaned i make them stand next to me when i do it. you'd be suprised how many guys want to wait outside when you weld a gas tank.

 

Hehe I can imagine .

 

Yeah, what he said. Clean the surfaces so you could eat off them. Get rid of any microscopic layers of oil or the JB weld won't stick in the dirty spots. Use any solvents that are clean and will not leave any residue after evaporation. Fast evaporating solvents will cool the metal down enough to condense water vapor from the air so even though the solvent evaporates fast, you still have to wait for the water to evaporate. JB weld holds up to hot oil just great. I used it to make my magnetic oil plug years ago and it still looks perfect.

 

Well I've thought about all the options, and given the circumstances I'm just going to hoist the engine and change out the entire pan. I found a new pan for $45 bucks, and it'll let me see if my rear oil bearing seal and my gaskets are ok (which probably are not). JB weld would have worked for the hole in the pan, but I'm still worried there's some other problem, because of how fast the oil came out.

Anyway, I'll let you guys know how it goes.. thanks a lot for all the input.