Need Help Asap!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
Need Help Asap!
Hey everyone, I'm stuck. And this shows how little I know about our cars anatomy. I was in the process of doing an oil change, so I figured it was a good time to put my new chrome oil pan and gasket on. So I removed all the bots from the oil pan and tried to slide it out. I thought it would fit....... WRONG! Some of the steering parts are keeping it from coming all the way out. I have disconnected some of the pieces, but I not sure what to disconnect next. I'd post some pics but, it wont let me.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 29,702
Likes: 0
From: Sometimes I wonder... why is that frisbee getting bigger? Then it hits me.
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
choo in trouble now mang. 
Haven't done the job you are talking about but someone will post the correct answer. or you could just grab the sawzall.
Good luck!
Haven't done the job you are talking about but someone will post the correct answer. or you could just grab the sawzall.
Good luck!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,373
Likes: 6,371
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Knock the centerlink loose from the idler arm. This will allow the entire steering section to drop down far enough that the pan can be removed.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
Originally Posted by lars
Knock the centerlink loose from the idler arm. This will allow the entire steering section to drop down far enough that the pan can be removed.
PS- Why cant I post attachments?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
I have knocked the center link free which can be a biatch but someone pointed you can just unbolt the idler arm bracket from the frame and save some 
. Have not done it yet but will try it in the future if I need to drop the pan. BTW Those chrome pans are notorious for leaking so make sure you get a good 1 peice gasket, Felpro makes a nice one.
. Have not done it yet but will try it in the future if I need to drop the pan. BTW Those chrome pans are notorious for leaking so make sure you get a good 1 peice gasket, Felpro makes a nice one.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,373
Likes: 6,371
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Fire -
The centerlink is the long part of the steering linkage that connects the left and right sides of the car. It is supported on the driver's side by the pitman arm and the steering box, and it's held up on the passenger side by the idler arm. By disconnecting the centerlink at the idler arm, it will swing down on the passenger side within the limits of the tie rod ends - enough to get the pan off.
Fevre -
Yes, you are correct: If you can't get the centerlink/idler arm joint separated, you can unbolt the idler arm from the frame (2 bolts) and allow the entire thing to drop down. There are 2 problems with this:
1. If you have headers installed, the tubes pass right across the idler arm bolt heads, so you can't access the bolts.
2. The nuts for the idler arm bolts are inside the frame, accessed with holes from the other side of the frame. It's really easy to drop those nuts inside the frame when removing the idler arm.
For these reasons, I suggest just knocking the link loose from the arm.
The centerlink is the long part of the steering linkage that connects the left and right sides of the car. It is supported on the driver's side by the pitman arm and the steering box, and it's held up on the passenger side by the idler arm. By disconnecting the centerlink at the idler arm, it will swing down on the passenger side within the limits of the tie rod ends - enough to get the pan off.
Fevre -
Yes, you are correct: If you can't get the centerlink/idler arm joint separated, you can unbolt the idler arm from the frame (2 bolts) and allow the entire thing to drop down. There are 2 problems with this:
1. If you have headers installed, the tubes pass right across the idler arm bolt heads, so you can't access the bolts.
2. The nuts for the idler arm bolts are inside the frame, accessed with holes from the other side of the frame. It's really easy to drop those nuts inside the frame when removing the idler arm.
For these reasons, I suggest just knocking the link loose from the arm.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
Originally Posted by Fireslayer26
Ok, I am having a really tough time removing the link from the arm. Any tips?????
Peace,,, Moosie 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
Thanks for the advise guys. The job is done, well half done. I got arm and link separated with a tie rod separator and hammer. Went to put the chrome oil pan on and it wouldnt fit correctly, I took it back off and compared it to the old pan. The old pan has a different opening inside it for the oil pick up and pump. So I just cleaned up the old one and put the new one-piece gasket on it, then put everything back together. Hopefully I didnt screw anything up on my steering!
WOW what a PITA!!!!
WOW what a PITA!!!!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 10,258
Likes: 1
From: Calif.
Originally Posted by Fireslayer26
Thanks for the advise guys. The job is done, well half done. I got arm and link separated with a tie rod separator and hammer. Went to put the chrome oil pan on and it wouldnt fit correctly, I took it back off and compared it to the old pan. The old pan has a different opening inside it for the oil pick up and pump. So I just cleaned up the old one and put the new one-piece gasket on it, then put everything back together. Hopefully I didnt screw anything up on my steering!
WOW what a PITA!!!!
WOW what a PITA!!!!
Chrome parts store doo-dads are offshore-manufactured CRAP most of the time. Lemme guess, was your chrome oil pan Mr. Gasket or Spectre?
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
Shiny Stuff
Hello Group...Greetings to all..Been a Lonnnngggg Time since I last posted but figured I'd put in my 02 for what it's worth. I've got a Mr G. chrome pan on my 79 and for the first little while it leaked like a siv. The felpro single piece gasket and a nice thin layer of black high temp rv sealant to both sides of the gasket seemed to do the trick. Thin being the key word. I let it set up for a few minutes and didn't over torque the pan bolts when I reinstalled it..Over tightening contributes to leaking gaskets in a lot of installations..Ya can't forget about the expansion when everything gets Hot..I'm guilty of installing some shiny stuff as well..I just like the look of chrome on an engine...Out of curiousity, I'd like to know what the general opinion is on installing chrome whatever..Is that out these days..or is it to each their own...Chrome....or No Chrome...?
It's good to be back..this site..and the people that come here..are the best.....Be Good To Each Other 
It's good to be back..this site..and the people that come here..are the best.....Be Good To Each Other