erichg1000

If you drop the oil pan down, not just a little but pretty much all the way off, can you just bolt the whole thing back up without worrying about the gasket? And the corners have a sealant. think it's ok to just put it back up?

RicemanZ06

The whole front suspension cradle has to be dropped to get the pan down. Always put a new gasket after removing the pan.

Kenny94945

+1 for new gasket

JJC5

#2

erichg1000

it was just hanging below the block. didn't need to remove it all the way. I just put it back up... we will see what happens

Carnac

Well, OP asked for opinions - got three, all the same, saying to change the gasket - still going with original position of not changing the gasket.

Larry Myers

Having dropped the pan once it will be easier the next time.

Michael_D

I do not think it is changed very often, as it is rivited to the pan. I dropped mine an inch and reused it. Just torque it, and retorque after a couple heat cycles. If it leaks, change it.

Poor-sha

Silly question, but how did you support the motor to change the oil pan gasket? I assume you need to remove the hood and use a gantry crane?

erichg1000

^ That. or you could just use a come-along from a rafter attached to a chain that goes on either side of the engine. Or just a chain. Like if jack the engine up a bit after undoing the mounts, and then hook a chain from the ceiling to the motor and then let the jack down from under the engine and then remove the cradle. I didn't fully remove the cradle because i didn't fully remove the pan i just had it sitting on the cradle to get to what I needed to get to. The engine mounts I put the nuts back on the bottom stud and had the whole mount sitting on top of the cradle for the clearance.