How hard is it to drop the oil pan? My gasket needs replacing. With a145,000 should I replace the pump?

 

First , you can not drop the pan on the inline 6. You can raise the engine a couple -three inches and thats it . Meanwhile . you can then wiggle the oil pump out between the top of the pan and the bottom of the block. Yep. it's acomplete pain but I have doneit and your'e wrists hurt , but ya can do it . Ed Shaver

 

Dropping the pan is dropping the pan no matter how it's done. If it was a simple as just dropping it without having to do anything else I wouldn't have posted the question. I already did it 4 days ago, wasn't hard at all other than working above while lying down. And you don't take out the pump, you disconnect the pickup tube let it drop in the pan and then pull the pan out.

 

did you end up having to loosen any engine mounts and / or raise the engine?

 

Yes, the bolts just need to removed and then stick a piece of 1" wood between the block and the mount after it's raised . Raise the engine slowly and watch you don't hit anything on top of the engine. I removed all but one bolt from the radiator shroud so the fan could have clearance. It took a little nudge to remove and replace the pan. I was 1/8" sort of clearing the transmission.

The hardest part is putting the pick-up tube back on the oil pump. The pick-up tube has 3 bolts, 2 at the pump and 1 at a rear brace. Put the one at the brace on first but leave it loose until you get the ones at the pump on. It's a tight space, and a little hard to get to, some light and a helper to hold the pan out of the way will help. Use a Felpro gasket they make it much easier with supplied mounting clips. 146,000 and my pan was clean as could be. My oil pressure did rise after I replaced the pump, about 20 percent.

I've been putting this job off for sometime but it's nice not having an oil leak anymore.

This is not a hard job, just dirty (if your oil pan's been leaking) and lying on your back with your arms above your head isn't too comfortable. It just takes time and being underneath makes it harder than it is.

 

Thanks man - this really helps.

got a new job, so I haven't been on the board in a long time.