I am currently in the middle of pulling the oil pan on my 88 TransAm. It has a 305 TPI out of an 85 IROC. My buddy swapped it from auto to manual. He decided to use a Lakewood scattershield instead of the factory bellhousing.

I have everything to the point where the oil pan should come out. I lift the engine as high as it looks like it will go, to the point where the engine hoist is starting to pick up the car as well. The stupid bellhousing is in the way, I need a couple more inches of clearance before the pan will slide out.

Anyone remove an oil pan from a car with this bellhousing? I need to know if it's even possible without pulling the trans. I am about ready to put it back together and sell the stupid thing. All thus car ever did when my friend had it was fight him on every little repair, and now, it seems like I'm getting the same treatement.

I'm not pulling the trans. I just put it in a month or two ago. Depending on what answers I get here, will depend on whether it's up for sale tomorrow or not. Thanks

 

Have you tried rotating the crank counterweights out of the way? They usually are in the way.

 

i just checked that, and all counterweights are out of the way. it looks like the bellhousing is the problem, and i'm not pulling the tranny again. this is stupid. this is why i hate using aftermarket crap on any of my cars. it never works out right in the end.

unless anyone else has any ideas, or has done this before with that bellhousing there, i'm gonna start putting it back together. car will be up for sale in the classifieds tonight or tomorrow.

 

Take a deep breath and have a beer or two.

Where is the pan hanging up?

Have you tried removing the transmission crossmember? Sometimes this will allow you to angle the engine/trans a bit more.

You can also try to "rotate" the engine. Picture unbolting the engine mounts and just lifting up on one side.

 

tried all of that and nothing. at any rate, i have cooled off a bit, we've all been to that point of frustration when working on our cars at some time, but i'm over it. the reason i'm pulling the pan was to replace the oil pump and rod bearings. i don't have a lot of cash, and one is knocking, so i figured this would work. it might have, had i gotten the pan off. but it's all good now. i'm putting it back together and will just leave it as-is for now. i have a good 305 motor that i took apart from a 91 Z28 that I will rebuild in the future and put in there. Pros of this: roller cam, fresh rebuilt motor, centerbolt heads, can replace my motor mounts/clean up and maybe repaint engine bay while it's empty..and i get to take off that stupid scattershield. and that will also give me a better chance to fix my minor clutch issue.

i came to grips with reality that i just can't sell my car, with it being a GTA with the digital dash, steering wheel radio controls, t tops, 5 speed...it may be a project, but its MY project.