Scooter70

Put in my new Fel-Pro rear main seal and one piece oil pan gasket yesterday. When we got the pan back on, it looked like the front end of the pan wasn't sealed well. There was a gap between the front flange on the timing cover and the pan, so much that I could stick a screwdriver in it. It didn't go all the way through, so the back of the gasket may be sealing ok. I didn't start the car yet, so I don't know if it's going to leak yet.
Anyone used this gasket and seen this? The motor is a 350 and the pan is a mid-year 6 quart pan. I used Fel-Pro 1885 which should be the correct gasket for this combo. I'll start the car tonight after work with someone watching the pan from below to see if oil comes pouring out of the pan.
Just wondering if this seems right to anyone.
TIA,
Matt

Eddie 70

Nice looking vette Scooter.

I was wanting to use the one piece gasket but wound up buying a Fel-Pro gasket kit from Summit. I may still go the one piece route. I just don`t want to have leaks. I feel like it would be better with the one piece gasket.

Keep us informed on how it goes. I will be watching this post with interest.

paso

The instructions that come with the one piece gasket I believe advises you to put a dab of silicone in the corners front and back. You should always do this wether your using the one piece or not . :)

Frankenvette

There are two different one piece oil pan gaskets from Fel-pro. I can't remember which is which but there are two types. The problem could be your mid-year oil pan. I don't recall the gasket being made for that pan unless its an exact duplicate of the 70's style. I'll search my info when I get some time to give the specific style to the specific years. I do remember that one has a thicker end seal than the other.

Regards,

Jim

71roadster

find the fel-pro web page. They describe the two different one piece gaskets. One has the thick front seal and the other has a thinner front seal. The thicker one is supposed to make it possible to pull the timing cover without dropping the pan.

just did this. good luck

Chris

Scooter70

Thanks everyone.

All small block oil pan gaskets are the same from 1957-1974 (265cid all the way to 400cid). Thin front seal with the dipstick on the left. 1975-1979 had the thick front seal and different timing cover (?) so that you could remove the timing cover without removing the oil pan. Dipstick still on the left. 1980-1985 still thick front seal, but dipstick switched over to the right side.

I went through all of this with the guy at Summit before I bought the gasket. This one just fit wierd, so that's why I'm asking if anyone had a similar experience.

79MakoL82

I used the one piece Fel-pro on my 79, and there were no gaps. Are you sure that it was seated properly before you put the pan up? As I remember on mine, wasn't there a groove in the gasket that the lip of the pan set in? Also, I don't think they recommend the dab of sealant at the corners, but I know a lot of forum members have tried this and swear by it. Mine didn't need it.

Frankenvette

Actually the do recommend the sealant in the corners. I just reinstalled mine this weekend after a rear main seal replacement. I checked the gasket directions, and it said to place a dab of sealant in all 4 corners.

Regards,

Jim

8T1-7T9 BIONIC VETTE

Scooter,
Did yours come with the plastic screw in guides? Mine had these plastic screw in giudes that you install in the four corners.....locks gasket into place....then install the pan. Sure made the job easy from under the car. Good luck......hope she don't leak. :seeya Cappy

78Vette-SA

I just installed the Fel-Pro Perma-Dry one piece. The instructions clearly state "NO CHEMICAL ADHESIVES" whatsoever.

There are no gaps and no leaks. Kinda like a big fat piece of solid sticky silicone.

vettfixr

Hi Matt
I went through the same thing with my 74. I changed over from the stock pan to a chrome pan and replaced the gasket with the Fel Pro 1 piece for small blocks up to 74. It turned out that the chrome pan needed the thick front seal and I had a major oil leak at the front. I then ordered a one piece gasket for 75 and later and installed it and it fit just right. Each gasket has provision for a dipstick on either side of the engine so you don't have to worry about that. Just get the gasket for 75 and later and you'll be allright. Good luck.

Edzred72

Lucky you! Just got my Fel-Pro 1 piece from Jegs... no plastic tabs.. no bolts :cry :cry

Frankenvette

78Vette-SA,

Your right, no chemical sealers on the gasket itself. You use the anaerobic sealer in the corners (where caps meet the block) before you install the gasket. The sealer is not to hold the gasket in place, just seal the corners to avoid leaks. Either way, it does not solve the gap issue. Maybe you have a defective gasket. I would ask to send it back for a replacement.

Regards,

Jim

Scooter70

Same here.... from Summit. pn 1885. There must be another part # for the kit (with tabs and bolts) but I couldn't find it.
I don't know what I'm gonna do. The pan is (supposedly) from an early smallblock, so it should be the thin front seal.
At $38, these gaskets aren't cheap. It's not that cheap to just get the thick front kind to give it a try.

79MakoL82

At $38 without snap-ups (the platic screw in thingy's) or bolts, it sounds like you got the Fel-Pro Performance Gasket, which is NOT a kit and does not include the plastic snap ups or longer bolts. Also, the performance gasket has a steel core and it DOES matter which side the dipstick is on. With the Performance Gaskets, part 1880 has the thick front pan seal and part 1885 has the thin front pan seal. Make sure you have the right one. At Summit, the regular Fel-Pro kits are:

FEL-OS34509T Chevrolet: 1957-74 262-400, one piece, oil pan gasket kit ... $33.99
FEL-OS34510T Chevrolet: 1975-85 262-400, oil pan gasket kit ... $32.39

79MakoL82

Scooter70,

Part 1885 has the THIN front seal. Sounds like you need part 1880, which has the THICK seal. Also, if you're going to return it, I'd return it for part OS34510T, which is just rubber with no steel frame (not necessary IMHO) and is the kit with snap-ups and new, longer bolts. Also, it doesn't matter what side the dipstick is on.


[Modified by 79MakoL82, 3:00 PM 2/12/2002]