Home page
SPONSOR AD

Support our Vendors!  |  Advertise Here

Topic: Oil Pan Gasket Replacement

in Forum: C3 Engines


Already a Member?
Login
Not yet a Member?
Register for Free!

Oil Pan Gasket Replacement (1/15)
 4/7/16 8:29am
Pappy's Toy
Former Member

Send Private Message

WILLIAMSTOWN, KY - USA

Vette(s):
Silver Anniversary 1978, L82?, 4-speed


Joined: 12/5/2002
Posts: 131

The oil pan gasket on my 78 is leaking. What is involved in replacing this gasket?

______________
Pappy's Toy
Our Sponsors help support C3VR
Re: Oil Pan Gasket Replacement (2/15)
 4/7/16 12:24pm
Sarge81Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

WEST SENECA, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.


Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379

Fairly easy job.
Step 1: Disconnect Battery

Step 2: Get front end of car up on jack stands or up on a lift if you have access to one. 

Step 3: Drain oil. Pull the dip stick up a little too. 

Step 4: Remove starter

Step 5: Remove flywheel shield 

Step 6: Disconnect the steering idler arm and lower it out of the way. 
           This will get the steering component out of the way to allow you to get the oil pan out.

Step 7: Remove oil pan bolts and you may have to gently tap on the pan to break it free. Use a soft mallet.

Step 8: Scrape all old gasket material off of both surfaces. Remove end seals. 

Step 9: Reinstall pan gasket and bolt the pan to the engine. Use a couple dabs of RTV where the pan gasket meets the end seals.

Step 10: Torque oil pan bolts. The 1/4" bolts are about 90 in. lbs. and the 4 5/16" bolts are 162 in.lbs.

Then just do everything else in reverse order. Fill with oil, connect battery and fire it up making sure the oil pressure jumps up quick. 

If your engine has a lot of miles on it. It might not be a bad idea to toss a new oil pump and drive in there while its opened up.

I think I hit most of the steps here. Others will chime in with other tips and tricks.



______________

GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


Lifetime Member #26
Re: Oil Pan Gasket Replacement (3/15)
 4/7/16 1:06pm
johnu
Standard Member
Send Private Message

Scottsdale, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Corvette Two-Tone Claret color, 4 spd, C7 Vert


Joined: 5/23/2007
Posts: 614

Aren't most leaks on the rear of the pan where that "rope" seal wraps around the crank? 

______________
      Only 32 years together
Re: Oil Pan Gasket Replacement (4/15)
 4/7/16 4:48pm
Sarge81Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

WEST SENECA, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.


Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379

johnu said: Aren't most leaks on the rear of the pan where that "rope" seal wraps around the crank? 


OP didn't mention leak at the rear of the pan. 

He said.."The oil pan gasket on my 78 is leaking. What is involved in replacing this gasket?"


______________

GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


Lifetime Member #26
Re: Oil Pan Gasket Replacement (5/15)
 4/7/16 5:48pm
Pappy's Toy
Former Member

Send Private Message

WILLIAMSTOWN, KY - USA

Vette(s):
Silver Anniversary 1978, L82?, 4-speed


Joined: 12/5/2002
Posts: 131

Thanks,Sarge81, I do have several leaks around the oil pan including by the end of the crank by the bell housing. The oil pan is pretty beat up so I might as well replace it while I'm at it.

______________
Pappy's Toy
Re: Oil Pan Gasket Replacement (6/15)
 4/7/16 8:50pm
Sarge81Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

WEST SENECA, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.


Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379

Check the rear of the valve covers, intake manifold and oil pressure sending unit to make sure those aren't leaking downward mimicking a rear main leak. If they are dry, then yes you most likely have a rear main seal leak which is a little more involve to fix. 
Does it drip a lot of oil while it's running? 
Are there a lot of miles on the engine?



______________

GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


Lifetime Member #26
Re: Oil Pan Gasket Replacement (7/15)
 4/7/16 9:06pm
Pappy's Toy
Former Member

Send Private Message

WILLIAMSTOWN, KY - USA

Vette(s):
Silver Anniversary 1978, L82?, 4-speed


Joined: 12/5/2002
Posts: 131

Sarge81, the valve cover gaskets were leaking; but I replaced them and took care of that issue. I will check the other areas for leaks. I haven't checked to see if it leaks while running. The car has 86,000 miles on it; but the engine is not the original and I don't know how many miles are on it.

______________
Pappy's Toy
Re: Oil Pan Gasket Replacement (8/15)
 4/8/16 6:31am
Sarge81Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

WEST SENECA, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.


Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379

That stinks that the true mileage is unknown. Hopefully when you drop the pan and start looking around it looks good. You'll be able to look up in the timing chain area and see and feel how much slack is in the timing chain too. Keep us posted on your findings.

______________

GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


Lifetime Member #26
Re: Oil Pan Gasket Replacement (9/15)
 4/8/16 11:16am
Pappy's Toy
Former Member

Send Private Message

WILLIAMSTOWN, KY - USA

Vette(s):
Silver Anniversary 1978, L82?, 4-speed


Joined: 12/5/2002
Posts: 131

Will do, thanks Sarge81

______________
Pappy's Toy
Re: Oil Pan Gasket Replacement (10/15)
 4/8/16 4:37pm
nosal1
Former Member

Send Private Message

Dunedin, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1980 Corvette Torch Red with Gold metallic 370HP/350 CU.IN.Turbo 350 w/shift kit.Originally CA.Car with 305 CU.IN.


Joined: 3/21/2006
Posts: 262

Right on Sarge,you hit all the stops on the R&R of oil pan etc.

Also on you statements you offered in the later remarks...Have a great day.
Sal C
Re: Oil Pan Gasket Replacement (11/15)
 4/11/16 6:45pm
apesa63
Former Member

Send Private Message

Hillsboro, OR - USA

Vette(s):
1975 L48 4sp. Coupe... Rebuilt Motor


Joined: 7/20/2015
Posts: 49

Just replaced my pan and gasket. I used this Felpro single rubber gasket in the pic, part #34510-T. Went on easily with a bit of high temp silicon around the crank ends. 




______________
Daytona Yellow '75 350 Muncie 4 spd
'73 454 on the engine stand.


Re: Oil Pan Gasket Replacement (12/15)
 5/1/16 8:25pm
Pappy's Toy
Former Member

Send Private Message

WILLIAMSTOWN, KY - USA

Vette(s):
Silver Anniversary 1978, L82?, 4-speed


Joined: 12/5/2002
Posts: 131

Finally finished the oil pan gasket replacement. I did use the Felpro one piece rubber gasket. I was in the process of doing two jobs at one time. I had the front end of the car block up to replace a leaking brake caliper. So I bought a rebuilt caliper for the right side and while I was at  it I bought both rubber brake hoses and of course new pads. I took the left caliper off and painted both calipers silver and put new pads on and the new hoses. After that I tackled the oil pan gasket. It was a chore; but I managed to get it on. After that, I notice a leak from the left rear wheel. You guessed it. The caliper was leaking. So I ordered two calipers for the rear with new pads, new hoses and new brake lines for the calipers. Calipers (painted silver) and hoses are on the car. Waiting on the brake lines from Mid America to finish the job. Hopefully I will then be able to drive her.


______________
Pappy's Toy
Re: Oil Pan Gasket Replacement (13/15)
 5/7/16 7:21am
77Driver
Former Member

Send Private Message

Lake Mary, FL - USA

Vette(s):
77 Lemans Blue L48 stock all the way around except paint color.


Joined: 3/29/2016
Posts: 8

Did the one piece seal take care of the leak in the back? I haven't used that type in the past so I assume it only replaces the seal on the bottom and that you don't try to squeeze a seal in between the crank in the block. Is that true? Also I think when you replace brake calipers it generally should be done one axle at a time. I only say that because you mentioned that you saw it leaks in the back ones so it's only a matter of time before that front one starts to leak too.
Re: Oil Pan Gasket Replacement (14/15)
 5/7/16 11:45am
gtr1999
Limited Member
Send Private Message

CHESHIRE, CT - USA

Vette(s):
1969 350 4 spd drop top 1972 350 auto coupe


Joined: 5/2/2016
Posts: 64

I was going to mention the one piece seal but see you got it covered. If I recall there are 2 front gaskets that were used. I don't recall what the year change over was but if someone installed a new gasket set, not the 1 piece, and had a leak I would check that.
 
Leaking calipers- check the rotor runout, bearing endplay, and if you can bleed them after storage. I use the old standard DOT3 and like it. Watch out for getting it on the paint though. I use a Motive bleeder and have great results - However I am a couple years overdue for bleeding now~!


______________
Re: Oil Pan Gasket Replacement (15/15)
 5/7/16 8:32pm
F4GaryGold Member
Gold Member
Send Private Message

Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1406

Rope seal?  Seriously?


______________

   

Our Sponsors help support C3VR