Rear Main / Oil Pan question
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Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Lucas TX
Rear Main / Oil Pan question
Most posts indicate all that I need to disassemble to replace the oil pan gasket and rear main is the idler arm and then the oil pump to get to the rear main. One post recommended removing the starter and the bell housing shield. On my 76 4 speed, do I need to remove the starter? Can I remove the shield without removing the starter?
Drifting
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On my '74 (smallblock, manual shift), the nose of the starter pokes through the shield. So I would have to remove the starter on my car. I'm assuming yours is similar. Also, it's a bit of a PITA to remove the bolt that lies directly behind the engine oil filter. Look carefully at yours. You may have to remove the filter first. You need to drain the pan anyway. No big deal.
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From: Gladstone MO
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IT's not "required" that you remove the starter, splash pan, or oil filter to remove the pan. Life is certainly easier with all of that out of the way. You'll need to pull the idler arm so the steering linkage will drop far enough to get the pan down. One bolt holds the oil pump on the rear main cap, and then the bolts for the cap itself.
With the starter and oil filter out of the way, cleaning the block is much easier.
With the starter and oil filter out of the way, cleaning the block is much easier.
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From: Lucas TX
I took off the starter, starter heat shield, and fly wheel splash shield. No problem at all with the starter. On my 76, the starter is on the opposite side from the oil filter, so I had easy access to the bracket bolt. I also had to remove the spark plug wire shield behind the starter on the passenger side. I unbolted the idler arm, but couldn't get quite enough clearance to get the pan out. I removed the frame side of the PS cylinder and the oil pan slid right out. When I saw the mess from the leak, I am glad I removed all that to get better access to clean it up. Thanks for the help.
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From: Lucas TX
I got the Fel-pro one-piece oil pan gasket and the Fel-pro 2912 (brown) rear main gasket based upon recommendations here.
I have been scraping off the old (cork) gasket. I think it was the original since it had orange paint like the block on the outside edge. It is hard as a rock. I guess they put gasket sealer on the engine side because none of the gasket came off with the pan.
I think cleanup will take much longer than actually replacing the gaskets.
I have been scraping off the old (cork) gasket. I think it was the original since it had orange paint like the block on the outside edge. It is hard as a rock. I guess they put gasket sealer on the engine side because none of the gasket came off with the pan.
I think cleanup will take much longer than actually replacing the gaskets.
