Oil pan gasket reseal - IN CAR

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   Well guys, when I was under the car this past weekend I had a couple small puddles of oil on the plastic tarp under my car. One spot was directly under the harmonic balancer and the other was dripping out of the "weep hole" in the transmission inspection plate. I'm thinking it's leaking around the pan gasket corners as it breaks to go around the crank.
During assembly, I dry fit the gasket and pan on one weekend and the following weeknd I tightened everything up thinking I had shot a bead of RTV at the gasket corners and now I kinda feel like I may have accidentally skipped that step! 

My question is... how difficult is it to jack the motor up to clear the crossmember and make this repair IN THE CAR? 

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
TV 2M8O Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20-September-2006 Location: Southern Ohio Status: Offline Points: 1692	Post Options Post Reply Quote TV 2M8O Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Oil pan gasket reseal - IN CAR Posted: 28-June-2018 at 5:40AM
	Well guys, when I was under the car this past weekend I had a couple small puddles of oil on the plastic tarp under my car. One spot was directly under the harmonic balancer and the other was dripping out of the "weep hole" in the transmission inspection plate. I'm thinking it's leaking around the pan gasket corners as it breaks to go around the crank. During assembly, I dry fit the gasket and pan on one weekend and the following weeknd I tightened everything up thinking I had shot a bead of RTV at the gasket corners and now I kinda feel like I may have accidentally skipped that step! My question is... how difficult is it to jack the motor up to clear the crossmember and make this repair IN THE CAR?
	TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/

TV 2M8O Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20-September-2006 Location: Southern Ohio Status: Offline Points: 1692	Post Options Post Reply Quote TV 2M8O Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28-June-2018 at 10:55AM
	Well if the shop manual is correct, it shouldn't be that big a deal to raise engine, drop pan and put it all back together correctly... FINGERS CROSSED!
	TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/

Rockatansky Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 30-July-2010 Location: On The Road Status: Offline Points: 4151	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rockatansky Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28-June-2018 at 12:08PM
	they leave all the prying, slamming, jamming, pushing, scraping & cussing out of the manual
	72 GT Ute

californiajohnny Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 9608	Post Options Post Reply Quote californiajohnny Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28-June-2018 at 2:24PM
	^^^this you should be able to jack it up and drop the pan enough to get it wiped off and put a little silicone in the corners, as far as completely removing the pan ...IDK usually it hits the sump tube or the front cross member or something to keep it from sliding it out without having the engine 10' in the air to clear stuff
	JOHN 74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION

Rockatansky Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 30-July-2010 Location: On The Road Status: Offline Points: 4151	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rockatansky Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28-June-2018 at 2:47PM
	gotta drop the pump into the pan to get the pan out to clean the surfaces properly to make a good seal blanket over the trans & jack it into the hump, maybe motor mounts off for room? maybe loose the headers & tie off to the sides? i always do a smear of RTV on the inside corners of any pan / intake install, so getting those inside corners clean / dry is important IMO
	72 GT Ute

TV 2M8O Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20-September-2006 Location: Southern Ohio Status: Offline Points: 1692	Post Options Post Reply Quote TV 2M8O Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29-June-2018 at 3:41AM
	Max, Luckily mine is a fresh build, so there won't be any issue with scraping crud, etc. With no more than 20-30 minutes run time on the engine, I'm hoping I can simply drain & drop the pan, pull the pan gasket away at the front timing cover and at the back crank main cap, spritz the corners with some brake cleaner to displace the oil, blow dry, shoot a blob of Ultra Blue RTV into the four corners, reposition the pan gasket, move the pan into place insert the screws and torque to spec.... I PRAY.
	TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/

Rockatansky Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 30-July-2010 Location: On The Road Status: Offline Points: 4151	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rockatansky Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29-June-2018 at 4:36AM
	several shots of brakleen & let it drip down / dry, repeat. i use a finger to introduce the schmoo to the metal rather than hope the blob 'takes', done it plenty of times, it don't hurt. never upside down though Edited by Rockatansky - 29-June-2018 at 4:38AM
	72 GT Ute

Big Bird Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25-August-2013 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 3366	Post Options Post Reply Quote Big Bird Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03-July-2018 at 2:06PM
	Kind of a PITA, as the steering linkages and crossmember are tight to the pan. It can be done, but you need to raise the engine and drop the oil pump pickup to remove the pan. AC box will add to the fun, if so equipped. I would start with a little internet research, see if there are any new swear words you haven't tried out yet.
	The above post should be read in a "Grumpy Old Man" voice. Almost forgot: "Get off my lawn!!!" Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX 4.6, 3.55 LSD

TV 2M8O Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20-September-2006 Location: Southern Ohio Status: Offline Points: 1692	Post Options Post Reply Quote TV 2M8O Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03-July-2018 at 3:36PM
	My suspicions were correct.... I must have dry fit the oil pan gasket and pan one weekend and then the following weekend buttoned everything up thinking I was done.... WRONG Saturday I got the pan dropped, the gasket and corners cleaned and sprayed several times with brake clean to get rid of any oil residue so the RTV and gasket will adhere nicely to the block sealing the corners and then left everything opened up so the cleaner can evaporate away. Next weekend I'll hit the corners with a good blob of Ultra Seal, reinstall the pan gasket, button up the oil pan and set the engine back down into the frame and reassemble everything removed to allow the engine to be raised.... then I'll be back on track to getting her ready to turn over to the body shop! Edited by TV 2M8O - 03-July-2018 at 3:38PM
	TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/

TV 2M8O Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20-September-2006 Location: Southern Ohio Status: Offline Points: 1692	Post Options Post Reply Quote TV 2M8O Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07-July-2018 at 10:40AM
	Well after wasting over an hour trying to position the oil pan gasket onto the engine from below, I finally realized it would be much simpler to remove the pan, stick the gasket onto the pan with a few smears of RTV, then RTV the corners on the engine and the pan and then position the pan onto the motor, so I pulled the front sway bar off and got the pan out and prepped for the install next weekend. I'll also finish cleaning the cured RTV from the engine as well. Edited by TV 2M8O - 07-July-2018 at 1:13PM
	TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/

Big Bird Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25-August-2013 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 3366	Post Options Post Reply Quote Big Bird Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07-July-2018 at 11:43AM
	Will the newer I piece gasket work for you? If so, tie it in place thru the bolt holes with dental floss, install the bolts loosely, and remove the floss before tightening up the bolts. Beats screwing around with the 4 piece gasket set.
	The above post should be read in a "Grumpy Old Man" voice. Almost forgot: "Get off my lawn!!!" Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX 4.6, 3.55 LSD

TV 2M8O Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20-September-2006 Location: Southern Ohio Status: Offline Points: 1692	Post Options Post Reply Quote TV 2M8O Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07-July-2018 at 1:11PM
	Randy, I thought about tying in place but I din't have anything handy, so I just dropped the pan and "glued" it to the pan in a few places with RTV. Have to get me a roll of floss and keep it in my toolbox!!
	TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/

Rockatansky Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 30-July-2010 Location: On The Road Status: Offline Points: 4151	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rockatansky Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07-July-2018 at 3:29PM
	doesn't somebody make a gasket with retainers for the 460?
	72 GT Ute

newmexguy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 27-September-2012 Location: las Cruces Status: Offline Points: 134	Post Options Post Reply Quote newmexguy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15-July-2018 at 9:49AM
	Or Fel-Pro "Snap-Ups" which aid in positioning of the oil pan gasket

TV 2M8O Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20-September-2006 Location: Southern Ohio Status: Offline Points: 1692	Post Options Post Reply Quote TV 2M8O Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15-July-2018 at 11:04AM
	Thanks all, I got it reinstalled with the pan this weekend and after initial startup, no drips. We'll see what it looks like next weekend.....
	TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/

californiajohnny Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 9608	Post Options Post Reply Quote californiajohnny Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15-July-2018 at 2:05PM

	JOHN 74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION