Stock oil pan gaskets
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1991 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Stock oil pan gaskets
Hey everyone, just wondering, what are our stock oil pan gaskets made of? I'm thinking about swapping a cam while the engine is in the car and maybe changing out my oil pan gasket while I'm at it (or in case I ruin the gasket while taking the timing cover off). Does the old gasket come out easily? In one piece? Or does it break apart? I suppose I can't get the pan out without the jacking the motor. I was hoping to just drop the pan enough to get the old gasket off and slide a new gasket in there. Anybody ever done this before? Thanks in advance.
#2
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 646
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1981 Camaro; 1986 Z28
Engine: LT1; LT1
Transmission: 6 speed; 6 speed
Axle/Gears: 3.73; 3.42
The gasket is made of cork for the rails and rubber on the ends. It is possible to replace the gasket while the motor is in the car. You will have to loosen all the bolts and let the pan sit down on crossmember. Once this is done, CLEAN the timing cover and the rear main cap. Also, use a little silicone in the corners where the rubber meets the cork. This will prevent future leaks.
#3
Moderator
iTrader: (14)
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Littleton, CO USA
Posts: 43,169
Likes: 0
Received 35 Likes
on
34 Posts
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
My original '86 pan gasket was one piece rubber. I was under the impression that all '86-up pan gaskets were same. But, I don't have enough exposure to say with certainty.
#4
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 646
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1981 Camaro; 1986 Z28
Engine: LT1; LT1
Transmission: 6 speed; 6 speed
Axle/Gears: 3.73; 3.42
It very well could be a one piece rubber design. It that is the case then the whole project will be that much easier.
#5
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1991 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Thanks guys. I was worried it was the type of gasket that's made out of paper or come sort of composite like the stock intake manifold gaskets. Those things I'm afraid of changing simply due to the fact that they break into little pieces and could fall into the pan. With the cork and rubber, they tend to stay in one piece, right?
#7
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1991 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Well, either way, if I wash the pan with enough oil enough times, if any gasket falls into the pan, I should be able to get it out through the drain hole, right?
Trending Topics
#9
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1991 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Any tips on how to keep the gasket in one pice when I break the seal? I imagine I'll have to smack the oil pan a couple of times to get the seals to break, right? Anyway to do it to maximize the chances of keep the gaskets in one piece so that I can simply peel them off?
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Maryland
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 86 camaro sport coupe
Engine: 355
Transmission: 700R4
86 and later engines with the one-peice rear main seal will have a rubber oil pan gasket. If you are doing a cam change you shouldn't have to touch the oil pan gasket. Just loosen some of the front oil pan bolts and be careful and patient taking the timing cover off and on you should be fine
#11
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1991 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Thanks a lot Sean... I was getting worried about that. So once you tighten up the pan bolts, the gasket should seal again, right? The last time I swapped a cam, I had the engine out of the car and we just replaced the gaskets while we were at it.
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Maryland
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 86 camaro sport coupe
Engine: 355
Transmission: 700R4
Yes they'll re-seal. The rubber gaskets re-seal no problem. I did a cam swap on my S10 with the 4.3 V6 with the rubber gasket, which is identical to the small block less the 2 cylinders. 3 years and 40,000 miles later there are no leaks. But it does take patience and finess.
#13
Supreme Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Yellowknife, NWT, Canada
Posts: 3,004
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 84 Z28
Engine: 357
Transmission: TH-350C
Axle/Gears: 3.43
Yes if you take it easy it should be fine.
If you try to rush or force things you may end up tearing the cork or shifting it and end up with a leak!
If you try to rush or force things you may end up tearing the cork or shifting it and end up with a leak!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Navy8125
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
4
08-21-2015 09:32 AM