Should I yank my engine to do oil pan gasket?

[t44e6]

1982 K10, 350, 4 speed, stock exhaust. I have a leak at the front of the pan, and probably one on the front crank seal as well. I'd like to correct it before it gets bad. I haven't spent a lot of time looking at it, but it looks like it might be possible to do it without taking the engine out. Maybe with disconnecting motor mounts etc I could do it without too much trouble. Weighing that against yanking the engine / transmission out and taking the opportunity to seal any other potential leaks and cleaning up the engine compartment. Inspect the clutch, rebuild the linkage etc etc. I left a lot of tools when I moved so it would involve buying or borrowing a crane and a stand and also enlisting help. Decisions.

 

[Vbb199]

Me and/or friends have done scummy stuff like rod bearings in frame... 2wd or 4x4, either option sucks because of the crossmember or axle (obviously that labor entails pulling the pan)

buttttt, it's alot easier with it out. For as simple as presumably that carb setup is in your k10, pulling a motor wouldn't be as monumental of a task as pulling a fuel injected motor with 90,000 different plugs and ground straps.

If you suspect a worn clutch, or other leaks, that might be the ideal time to just do it all at once with the motor out

 

[fast 99]

It's not a fun job but the oil pan is fairly easy to do with the motor in. Reseal the front cover at the same time. Do yourself a favor buy a 1 piece pan gasket.

 

[dvdswan]

If the rear main isn't a one piece I would do that as well.

 

[Bextreme04]

I've done oil pan gasket at least 4 times in my truck without having to unhook anything except the starter. Its about an hour job to drop it, clean everything up and put new gaskets on. That's in a stock height K-truck and also with a 4 inch lift. Its easier if you lift the truck up as high as possible and support the frame before letting the axle drop to give the most clearance. That will let you get as much access as possible.

 

[fast 99]

If the rear main isn't a one piece I would do that as well.

Shouldn't be, change over was in 86.

 

[mtnmankev]

The best part of yanking the engine is, it gives one a chance to clean everything up and give it a nice pretty new coat of Chevy orange paint.

 

[Bextreme04]

The best part of yanking the engine is, it gives one a chance to clean everything up and give it a nice pretty new coat of Chevy orange paint.

The worst thing about pulling the engine on something this old though is that you are bound to find/break at least 2 things that you weren't planning on touching in the first place. Its a simple job to degrease/clean/paint and change the pan gasket in a very short amount of time with minimal fuss. In fact, you can probably do all of that in less time than it takes to even remove the front clip.

 

[fast 99]

Ever heard the saying don't poke the bear or don't fix something that isn't broke?

 

[Vbb199]

I personally like at some point or another to completely going thru an entire system, piece at time so I know it won't fail me, especially if I'm relying on the thing to run over to the next town without issue.
At this point, I have literally been thru damn near every single piece of my suburban now at some point or another lol

That's how my old s10 was when I drove it everyday, and that's how everything else i own will be, when time allows.


If I know it in and out, there's never any mysteries when a problem arises usually

However, if this is just a weekend driver, or just a toy, shitttttt, I'd just slap another pan and gasket on in frame.
Fix the rest as other problems raise their ugly head

 

[John-Ryan]

I've done oil pan gasket at least 4 times in my truck without having to unhook anything except the starter. Its about an hour job to drop it, clean everything up and put new gaskets on. That's in a stock height K-truck and also with a 4 inch lift. Its easier if you lift the truck up as high as possible and support the frame before letting the axle drop to give the most clearance. That will let you get as much access as possible.

Good advice right there!

 

[t44e6]

The best part of yanking the engine is, it gives one a chance to clean everything up and give it a nice pretty new coat of Chevy orange paint.

Is blue...in 82...

 

[t44e6]

I already bought the chain cover gasket and a new Cloyes timing chain set, I will probably just do it in truck. Pull the radiator out, put it up on jackstands.

 

[Turbo4whl]

Info for anyone else reading this thread, engine in chassis. Pulling the pan on a K truck, plenty of room. Pulling the pan on a 2 wheel drive, not so much.

 

[longbeach]

Just a note. I did mine with engine in. Not bad at all. I used a felpro one piece rubber gasket. Do not use those pegs they give you to hang gasket on. Not enough room. I used a few pieces of sail twine tied it to oil pan. Just make them a little loose so you can clip them and pull them out once pan is in place with a few bolts loosely holding it. Also, be sure to put a little bit of RTV in the corners by crank like the directions say. Ask me how I know. Sail twine is like a thick thread. The advice about jacking truck up some sounds like a great idea. I did not, but only cause I didn't think of it. Also, had to grind down the outside of a 1/2" and 7/16" sockets to fit on the bolts good.