jayfire

I have a 79 vette with a 350 and a really bad oil pan gasket leak. My question is what part of the steering linkages under the pan do I need to take off to drop the pan? I heard either lift the engine or drop steering linkage, but there is a lot of crap bolted to each other under there and I want to take off only what is needed to get the oil pan off. Anyone tell me which ones to take off or a pic would be nice. Thanks

KapsSA

Easiest is to remove the 2 bolts holding the idler arm to the frame.
I've found it also helps to remove the nut holding the ps cylinder to the frame bracket and pull the shaft out of the bracket.
If you have a 4speed you'll need to remove the starter to get the flywheel cover off to access the rear 2 pan bolts. I suppose bubba might just bend the cover but why?
Auto you can remove the flywheel cover with the starter in place.
Hardest thing to remove is the front Y pipe if you still have factory style exhaust. Manifold studs like to snap off and pipes like to rust together.

73StreetRace

On my 73 L-82 4speed, I did it like KapsSA said, but I was able to reach the two rear pan bolts without removing the starter or the flywheel cover.
In my case, remove starter would also mean remove right header first
So, for me it would be just :
Drain engine oil , preferably at least 12 hours before removing the oil pan. Then put the plug back on.
This will prevent too much black oil from trickling down your face, clothes and garage floor...
Remove the 2 bolts holding the idler arm to the frame,
Remove the nut holding the power steering cylinder to the frame bracket and pull the shaft out of the bracket. This will add a fraction of an inch clearance.
Remove oil pan bolts and drop the oil pan.
I also noticed that when the cranshaft is in cylinder #6 firing position, this operation is easier.

Maybe it's a good time to change the rear main seal too...

mikep3

Be Safe.
Disconnect the Battery.
Disconnect the Battery.

Drop starter.
Drop transmission cover.
Drop idler arm.
Drop steering cylinder.

Then start on draining the oil and removing the pan.

73StreetRace

mikep3 is right. Disconnect the battery, even if you don't intend to remove the starter.

thegazman

There is a web site called "vette tech". that has photos and details for removing the oil pan. Look under "misc./ rear main seal replacement".

KapsSA

Happened to have my 79 4speed up on the lift so I took a look to refresh my memory.
It's not so much gaining access to the 2 rear pan bolts but the fact that there's 2 tabs on the flywheel cover that hook over the pan flange.
Just didn't want to bend them or scratch up the new paint on the pan