Mine is leaking and I'd like to change the gasket. Looking at my chiltons manual it lists draining coolant, removing upper intake manifold, exhaust and transmission crossmember. I know the mounts will have to be unbolted and motor raised some, but is it necessary to remove all that other stuff to remove the pan?

 

Don't forget the y-pipe. Need to be removed. Or cut the driver side portion only and make a coupler to join it back up.
I used a jack and a 4x4 piece of wood with a V cut in it. Placed it against the harmonic balancer and jacked up. Have a friend watch you don't smash or crush important lines and electrical, but most importantly your hands. After its jacked high enough, place something between the motor mounts as a safety. Then you should be good.

 

Anybody else? Upper manifold really have to come off?

 

Just the intake manifold elbow.

I have replaced pan gaskets this way, but I won't any more. Too big of a pain. I can pull the motor, put it on the stand, inspect internals, replace gasket and pan, and have it back in the truck before I can even get the pan off by trying to do it with the engine still in the truck. And having to pull the oil pump intake tube by reaching up in there with the pan half off is the biggest pain of all.

 

I have the 4.9l manual and i was able to swap out the whole pan and gasket but lifting the motor after the motor mount and transmission mounts were loose. The engine while slide back to you will need to be careful of that

 

Did either of you remove any exhaust or the trans crossmember?

 

No just the bolts had to be loosen on the motor mounts and trans mount. hen lift up the motor

 

Exhaust loose from manifolds-yes. Remove trans crossmember-no.

 

Thanks guys, that helps a lot. Weather permitting, I'll tackle it this weekend.

Edit: 1-1/2" be enough?

 

Also, I don't have a hoist and plan on jacking the motor up with a piece of 2 x 4 between the jack and oil pan. The 2 x 4 will be longer than the width of the pan so the pressure will be on the vertical sides of the pan. After the motor is up, I'll insert wood at the mounts to support and remove jack. Sound good?

 

It is a huge pita to do this while the engine is in the truck but it is possible. Unbolt exhaust from manifolds, unbolt shift linkage, and remove fan from water pump pulley and sit it inside the fan shroud. I placed the jack under the bell housing of the transmission. Have someone watch the engine while you jack it up as high as you can until the upper intake hits the firewall. You cannot remove the pan this way but you can change the gasket and replace the oil pump, pickup tube, and oil pump driveshaft if you want to.

 

Yes watch the wiper motor. But go till it touches. Then you want to have the motor stay that high so wedge wood into the motor mount area so the engine does not move down when releasing the jack. I was able to remove the whole pan and gasket when i did my truck. Its tight but was able to do it. Just take your time and make sure you clean the area the seal will be. I used small zipties to hold the gasket in place while installing the pan &gasket. If you dont have the retainer pins this was a helpful tip

 

Good idea on the zip ties. Hopefully I'll be able to completely remove the pan but if not, good to know I'll still be able to replace gasket. Thanks fellas.

 

When I did mine (on a 4.9L), the fan also contacted the radiator shroud and pulled it up and away from the radiator as I lifted the engine, so keep an eye on yours knowing you may need to place it back where it goes before starting the engine.

 

Here's where I jacked