Richard, your oil pan can be removed without raising the engine, but you will have to lower or remove the steering linkage. if you unbolt the idler arm from the passenger side and disconnect the power steering valve from the steering box, the linkage will drop drop down far enough to get the pan out. Good luck.

I think all I had to do was disconnect the idler arm bracket from the frame when I replaced my rear seal.

I used the Felpro blue one piece pan gasket.

|UPDATED|3/17/2017 8:52:56 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

I have removed the oil pan from my 454 by just removing the idler arm. I didn't have to disconnect any of the steering linkage. It took some maneuvering but got it out and back in with just the idler arm off and the metal cover over the bottom of the flywheel, of course.