bogus

I was reviewing the process in my helms manual... is it REALLY as easy as they describe?

Do I have to lift the engine? Remove the front cover? Did I miss something?

Thanks!!!!

:thumbs:

Goody

Bogus, I remember reading that you will need to make sure that the #1/#2 rods are up so you can get the front out easier. Don't know if that is in the book. Never done it so I don't know for sure, YET. :D

jcook00

While doing a cam swap, I had number one cyl up (dots lined up top to bottom) when I unfastened the oil pan. It pretty much just fell to the floor of my garage. The engine was not raised to drop the pan (the car was on jack stands). You may however have to drop the starter, oil filter and oil filter adapter. Then it is just the 18 bolts/screws that fastens the oilpan to the bottom of the block. I purchase the oilpan gasket set from a local parts store for 20 bucks. GM wanted 47 bucks for it.

greggo's 94LT1

I DEFINATELY recommend the Fel-Pro gasket set. They now have these (4) plastic clips (studs) that screw into the 4 corners of your block. They have these 'lil tangs hanging off the side & you "snap" the gasket & pan up on there & they hold it in place while you get all the other bolts started. once those are hand-tight...unscrew the plastic studs & put the last 4 bolts on. I can't believe this is the first time I have seen these & also that some mfg. hasn't come out with them before. Great gasket to boot!

bogus

Thanks for the gasket tip! Felpro it is! They make a great product!!!

The rods tip... that is rattling in the addled brain of mine - thanks for the pointer!

I read the helms guide, and they indicate that everything under there comes off...

it looks like it should not take more than an hour to change! I hope it stops my leak!!!!!!

Strick

Hey Greggo, that sounds great. I used the GM gasket.

You might want to read over my tech tip under the tools of the upper bar. Tools>tech tips>C4>meziere coolant pump install. It tells you how I installed the Meziere pump, but in it I tell how I removed the oil pan. I know there may be short cuts, but I wanted to do it right and time was not a factor. Yes, I removed the oil filter adapter (glad I did the gaskets were hard), and the starter, and the driver's side cat. This gave me plenty of room to work and do the fitting of the oil pan properly. Let me know if you need any more advice. :thumbs: :cheers:

Strick

One more thing, you don't have to remove the timing cover to remove the oil pan and I did raise the engine, but only about 3/4" it's in my article.

greggo's 94LT1

I hope that's where it's leaking from. I thought my pan gasket was leaking too...but it wasn't from there. When I decided to do my cam swap a couple of weeks ago...discovered that it was the very back of the intake gasket. Now EVERY gasket has been replaced and no more leaks! Hope it solves your problem.

Strick

Just a quickie, Greggo did you pull your engine to swap cams? Or did you leave it in the car?

greggo's 94LT1

Left it in the car. Howerver, by the time got all of the "incidentals" off of the engine...was only a few bellhousing bolts from pulling it out.

bogus

Thanks guy's!

I ordered the Felpro gasket!

vinnies87

good luck, let us know how it goes... :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:

bogus

argh. done. but the leak was not from the oil pan, but the rear main... as I was afraid it would be.

and it was a BITCH.

there was tons of grime and crap under there. it was a MESS... I cannot find words to describe how nasty it was... then again, the words that come to mind would be censored.

Mr Mojo

I'm afraid to even look at mine for the same reasons you state. You've seen my car, you know what I mean!

bogus

wash the mess in simple green... and it won't help... spray it with a case of brake cleaner... and it won't help...

you are getting the picture.

it's a disaster. you clean one layer, it reveals another layer.

I have never seen such a mess... it's insidious. The only true solution? Pull it out and have the motor hot tanked... as you get ready to rebuild it!!!

Mr Mojo

tell me about it, I have to change the power steering pump now, maybe I should just pull the motor, stroke it and replace all the accessories!

larryfs

how much of a hassle is it to remove the oil filter adaptor?
I brought the Impala SS oil filter adaptor with the cooling ports.

seems like a simple bolt on??

bogus

the oil filter adaptor is not that hard... what is hard is removing that damned gasket that turns to concrete.

I had to hit it with a wire brush to burn it off... and it still took 30 minutes!!!!!!

The adaptor is held on by 2, 1/4" allen head bolts. remove the filter, remove those bolts, pop a prybar under there and off it comes. just be gentle. you will need new gaskets, tho... there is a paper gasket that fits inside the adaptor and a rubber o-ring for the outer ring.

clean up real good under there before you do anything. it will make this a much more pleasent experience.

onedef92

I went with Fel-pro and copper RTV silicone when I swapped mine out. No leaks to date! :thumbs:

bogus

I will remember that! Thanks!