New oilpan + one piece gasket help

[80BrownK10]

For future reference, I believe '74 was the year of the change. But that only helps if you know what year your parts are... which is always a question with the venerable small block.

I think it was late 80 or 81? Well your probably right. My truck is an 80 but it's not the original block and who knows what it's out of. I have the older style and a two piece rear main.

 

[bucket]

I think it was late 80 or 81? Well your probably right. My truck is an 80 but it's not the original block and who knows what it's out of. I have the older style and a two piece rear main.

'80 was when they went to the passenger side dip stick. Most blocks. The small displacement 262 might have got it sooner.

 

[80BrownK10]

'80 was when they went to the passenger side dip stick. Most blocks. The small displacement 262 might have got it sooner.

Well I do have a passenger side dip stick. And I have 100% two piece rear main because I replaced it about a year ago!

 

[BRetty]

Well I do have a passenger side dip stick. And I have 100% two piece rear main because I replaced it about a year ago!

Helpful to read this, thanks. My truck is registered as a 1973 from the VIN on the door post, but the PO swapped in a dash and transmission and engine from an 81 Suburban. I had been wondering why things were not matching up with the '73 diagrams and service manual. The pass side dipstick in particular made me feel like a weird deformed freak who should hide in shame. Now I understand.

(Had I figured this all out when I found the 81 VIN under the dash cover, I might have saved myself much mental anguish and obsessive worry.)