ok, on a 1990 3.1L, do you have to remove the oil pan to remove the front crankcase cover???

------------------
Dan
100% stock 1990 RS 3.1L
and VERY slow

 

*picturing in my head the last 2.8/3.1 I installed*.....

No. Just don't forget to remove the pan bolts (4, I think) that go into the cover.

------------------
ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R

GO #3

 

that's what i thought.....thanks engineboy

------------------
Dan
100% stock 1990 RS 3.1L
and VERY slow

 

My '86 had two oil pan bolts. The damn GM manual didn't show them... they're at the bottom of the front engine cover, and they're small, I think 10mm, compared to the other bolts on the front cover.

So I got all the large bolts off, and 'm prying and prying and prying, and then I thought to feel around to see if something was holding the cover. Sure enough, in the dirt below the front lip, I found those two suckers. I think I might've bent the pan a bit, too, but I used enough blue RTV to seal it off. No leaks 1 year later!

I bought a Fel-Pro timing chain gasket kit for my year of 2.8. It included a piece of cork gasket to replace the one that goes from the front cover to the oil pan, but I just used the RTV.


------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards

 

thanks TomP, hey what about the crank seal in the crankcase cover?? did you replace that at the same time???

------------------
Dan
100% stock 1990 RS 3.1L
and VERY slow

 

DEFINATELY replace the crank seal.

And as TomP stated, throw away the cork gasket for the oil pan lip, it just gets in the way.

I put a fat bead of silicon on the pan just before installing the cover and then after its tight just rin your finger along the pan rail to spread it out and pack it in.

Good luck.

------------------
ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R

GO #3

 

Yup I did, and the crank seal was included in that Fel-Pro kit, along with the water pump and timing chain cover gaskets. I think the kit was around $15. I used Permatex's hi-tack-red gasket sealant on the water pump and chain cover gaskets.


------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards