can anyone tell me the easyest way to change the rear main in my 83 E350. it took me 8hrs to change the oilpan gasket but i never got the pan compleatly out. plus i have a 351w does it have a two peace seal or a one peace?

 

I'm in the process of finishing up my replacement of the timing chain/gears on our 1982 Ford E150 5.8L 351W.

Have you tried to remove the nuts on the engine mounting on both sides as well as the nuts on the tranny mounts? Once you have done that, you can raise the engine up by jacking up the vibration dampener.

I have purchased a one piece pan gasket (rubber, the sides have metal reinforcement) from 1995 Ford F150 Lightning.

 

thats how i got the op gasket on but was afraid of damaging the dampener if i jacked it up to high

 

83 351 has 2 piece seal...

 

if i jack the engine up by the dampener will it hurt the tran-engine connection?

 

I don't think so... Just make sure you remove the nuts on the transmission mount in addition to the two motor mounts.

 

thanks for the advice all