How to change oil pan gasket

[Biggredd2069]

68 Newport 383. Can't find in search...Do you need to lift the engine to replace the oil pan gasket? I can get by how it is now but does have a small drip from it. Wouldn't mind to replace it and think I can do the work myself but just need to confirm if I need to lift the engine. If so, I've seen a jack method which is questionable. I could probably get a cherry picker. Do you just remove an engine mount bolt and raise it up with whatever method you go with?

 

[67Monaco]

I used a brace across the inner fender lip, and lifted from there. Pair of 2x4's screwed together, on the tall side, ran a bolt through both and bolted a chain to each side of the engine. Used a turnbuckle on each side through a few links in the chain to raise it up. You know open the turnbuckle to the widest, put the ends trough the links of chain, tighten the turn buckle, makes the OAL of the chain shorter. All HomeDespot acquired stuffs.

 

[73Coupe]

You can use a bottle jack under the balancer, with blocks of wood as necessary. Works fine. You'll also probably have to disconnect the center link and move it out of the way. On mine, I just unbolted the idler arm which allowed enough articulation of the linkage to provide adequate clearance.

 

[GJS]

I didn't lift the engine, just dropped the Y pipe and center link. Some serious dexterity involved in getting the bolts from between the pan lip and the cross member but it's possible.

 

[Biggredd2069]

Thanks for the info. I'll start my planning based on this.

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

Thanks for the info. I'll start my planning based on this.

Plan on buying several gallons of Fast Orange hand cleaner........

 

[detmatt]

Is it leaking from the rear because it might be the rear main.

 

[BLUPORT]

I've heard adding very fine sawdust and 2 bottles of Lucas Oil Treatment will seal up everything.

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

Is it leaking from the rear because it might be the rear main.

That will require another gallon of Fast Orange.....

 

[3C's & a D?]

I agree with GJS, no need to lift the engine. Remove the y pipe, if single exhaust, another plus for dual exhaust, center link, you can do one side and push it out of the way, and flywheel cover.

 

[3C's & a D?]

I've heard adding very fine sawdust and 2 bottles of Lucas Oil Treatment will seal up everything.

Adding sawdust to engine oil? In theory, I can understand how it could work. I would consider that a last ditch effort at best. Lucas oil treatment (rich man's STP), has its place, however for most applications, it's toward the end of the engine's life.

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

Adding sawdust to engine oil? In theory, I can understand how it could work.

Nahhhh...that's bullshit. What you want to do is add it to your gasoline. The latent cellulose structure within the sawdust is activated/converted/dissolved by the ethanol in modern gas, and it contributes significant anti-knock characteristics to the gas, to the tune of 98 RON. No affect on the fuel filter, because the cellulose is dissolved in the process. You could easily run 38 degrees total timing with just a little bit of sawdust in the tank. We're talking 10-15 foot-lbs of torque at 5000 revs.







I'm totally joking. Don't put sawdust in your tank, please. I will not be responsible for pulling your leg and you actually believing my dumb ***.

 

[73Coupe]

I prefer to add lead shavings in the tank - they dissolve over time and add the right amount of lead to your gas.
Fishing weights and a cheese grater - works great!

 

[73Coupe]

I agree with GJS, no need to lift the engine. Remove the y pipe, if single exhaust, another plus for dual exhaust, center link, you can do one side and push it out of the way, and flywheel cover.

I tried that, but the crankshaft is in the way no matter how I rotated it. Two bolts through the mounts and a few pumps with the jack only took 5 minutes to make the job a lot easier....

 

[3C's & a D?]

I tried that, but the crankshaft is in the way no matter how I rotated it. Two bolts through the mounts and a few pumps with the jack only took 5 minutes to make the job a lot easier....

Hmm, was that on a '73? I noticed the original poster's car is a '68. The ones I have done were all '71's, Chrysler 440, Chrysler 383, and Dodge 360. All done with engine in place, I recall the Dodge small block being more of a pain than the big block's.

 

[73Coupe]

Hmm, was that on a '73? I noticed the original poster's car is a '68. The ones I have done were all '71's, Chrysler 440, Chrysler 383, and Dodge 360. All done with engine in place, I recall the Dodge small block being more of a pain than the big block's.

Yup a '73 w/ 440 and #699 pan.

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

Yup a '73 w/ 440 and #699 pan.

View attachment 295935

There's something very appealing about that oil pan pic. It's kinda "artsy", what with the lighting and all.

 

[3C's & a D?]

Yup a '73 w/ 440 and #699 pan.

View attachment 295935

Maybe it depends on the pan. I know for sure one, if not both, of the big blocks have the 187 pan.

 

[3C's & a D?]

There's something very appealing about that oil pan pic. It's kinda "artsy", what with the lighting and all.

You know you're a car guy when...

I agree with you, it's a nice shot!

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

You know you're a car guy when...

....you think of a pic of a damn old oil pan as "artsy"! Maybe it's the roundness of the harmonic balancer juxtaposed with the linear squareness of the pan flange.

Did I just write "juxtaposed"?

Indeed, it has its own charm. The colors, the lighting, the lack of the need for several gallons of Fast Orange....