I have a 1989 L98 350 motor and I need to change the oil pan gasket becuase it is leaking bad. Can I change gasket with motor in car if I disconnect motor from mounts? Will there be enough room or not?

Need answer badly to this question!!!

 

Yes it can be done, but it is not very much fun at all.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

Any tricks that will help me to make it happen?

 

Someone has to have some details on how this can happen.

 

I've tried to pull the oil pan off, but we decided to just forget about it(the motor was coming out anyways). But i can tell you. Unbolt the motor mounts, jack the motor up VERY carefully. Then prepare to start the cussing.

Brendan

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1987 IROC-Z L98,SuperRam,EB 6085's,LPE 219/219 Roller, Crane 1.6RR, EB TPI Base, 58mm TB, ADS 24#, AFPR, K&N, EB TES, Catco Cat, 3" Borla Cat-Back, Accel cap,rotor,distro/other crap, MSD 6AL, MSD Blaster 3, Aluminum DS, 94 Disk Rear, Adjustable Valve, Precision 3.73 Gears, Sub-Frame Connectors, Hotchkis Lower Control Arms, KYB Shocks/Struts, Suspension Techniques Lowering Springs, Polyurethan Bushings all over the place, Moog Upper/Lower Ball joints and Tie Rods ends/Idler Arm,

To see the ROC, Check out the webpage Here

 

Anyone out there who has successfully changed and oil pan gasket with motor still in car. I will be removing the motor mounts, but I want to know if anyone has done it with success.

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1989 Pontiac Formula L98 Ported Plenum, Edelbrock 6085 Heads, Edelbrock HI-FLO Intake, BBK 52MM TB, Edelbrock TES, FlowMaster 3" Exhaust, Dual Cats, 3.27 Gear, CompuCam 2032 Cam, 1.5 Rollers, Ed Wright FastChip, Accel Super Coil, MSD 8mm Wires

 

Yes, and if you're really good and talented and multi-jointed you can even change the oil pump while you're at it. But, be prepared for frustration.

 

FLASHGTA: Are there any tricks that I can use to make this a little easier. I am concerned about the small amount of room between the oil pan and the frame. I am not sure if I can lift the motor high enough to get the oil pan out with damaging the motor.

 

The Haynes manual says to unbolt the motor mounts, y-pipe to manifold connection, starter, clutch or torque converter inspection cover, and anything else in the way to lift the motor. If you have a hoist, use that, if you don't, then put a block of wood between the floor jack and the oil pan. Jack the motor up as high as you can without breaking anything and put a piece of wood (about 3" thick) between the frame rails and the engine block on both sides of the motor where the mounts are. you will need to rotate the crank so the timing mark is in the 6 o-clock position so the front counterwieght on the crank is out of the way. you should then be able to unbolt the pan and pull it out.

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89 Transam GTA, 350TPI, auto, 3.27 rear, dual cats, gray.
Magnaflow cat-back,
K&N open element,
Best E.T. 14.63@95mph

 

Remove your distributer cap, that will probably be the first thing to get crunched while jacking up the engine. Also watch for the oil pressure sender near the distributer too.

 

Bottom line is there are no tricks. I thought I had to change my oil pump a while back, and looked for any tricks. You can get the engine up high enough to have about 1/2" to an inch of clearance from what I read.


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Corry Lazarowitz
clazarow@voicenet.com
clazarowitz@hotmail.com
SLP 1 3/4" headers, 3" cat back (stock cat )MSD ignition. MSD Blaster SS coil. More soon when funds are avail...

 

There was an article in Super Chevy or Car Craft a couple of years ago where they put an oil pan in a 91 or 92 camaro, while they did tranny and head work. They didn't go into much detail about how it was done, just that it could be. It also said its best to do it when the engine is out of the car.....

One quick piece of advice, to clear the oil pickup and the crossmember, your crankshaft has to be in the right position (and I can't remember what one that is), because the oil pickup is prone to damage.

 

As they said, there are no tricks.

 

I have done it and it's pretty much like what everyone has said. If you get the engine up high enough, which you should definitely be able to do, all you gotta do is slide the oil pan out. Good luck.

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88 firebird formula
350 Vortec TBI
214int/224exh, .471int/.491exh
Edelbrock headers
SIX-speed
open 3.73's
2 1/4 stock catback
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My Formula

All your base are belong to us.

 

Not fun at all. I had to rent a engine hoist to lift the engine up, not out of the car, but high enough to get the oil pan out. It really was not to hard after that. Also do not make my mistake, when they say moderately apply RTV gasket compound they are not kidding, nothing worse then fixing a leak in rear main seal and then having the leak move to the front.