69dodgecharger

Hey, so my buddy needs a new pan gasket on his 01 ws6 and wants me to fix it for him. I have never attempted to pull a pan from a f-body with the motor in the car. How much of a pain is it? Is it doable without lifting the engine or droping the k-frame? How many hours would it take a experienced mechanic to do?

conan

iTrader: (5)

Have to drop the k member to get it out there is also 2 rivets you have to drill out. If he has the money talk him it to a tube K member good time to swap and if the pan ever has to come off again the tube k member can stay in the car. It also opens up more room for other repairs too.

Minshall

If youre gonna have the pan off id put some rod bolts in too.

1999FirehawkLS1

iTrader: (21)

Have to drop K member i agree tube K member time!

jrpimp00

iTrader: (17)

I just did mine last week, and it was the first one I ever did. Only took about 5 hours in my garage. (3hours one day and a lil over 2 the next) A lot easier (for me) than I thought it would be. Wish I would have taken pics now. Oh, I did a new pan cause mine was cracked and the new gasket was alreaded installed. Make sure you get the gasket lined up great. The K member is only 6 bolts, and make sure you disconnect the shocks at the bottom and lower the K member with a jack to get enough room.

BayAreaSS

iTrader: (10)

I think i need to replace my oil pan gasket as well. I was hoping i didn't have to pull the motor back out. This is going to be fun LOL

mike13

iTrader: (27)

jrpimp did you use a engine hoist to hold up the motor when dropping the K member?

jrpimp00

iTrader: (17)

Nope, i jack the engine up as far as i could and used a chain and some tow straps to support it with my strut tower bar. It stayed up for both days and worked perfect (for me) I didnt want to go and get a hoist and I saw it done this way atleast 3 times before. Oh, i did put some washers about 1/2 inch worth under the strut tower race where it attaches to the tower, to get a lil more room. I hope you understand what im saying.

Z28LS1camaroguy

iTrader: (3)

ima have to do this aswell it should be fun lol, i plan on doin the same thing jrpimp00 is talking about and using the strut tower brace to hold it. what did you put your straps around???? did you get some extra bolts and thread them in existing holes to hold the engine up??? and also if you dont have a strut tower brace ive heard of guys using 2x4s.

jrpimp00

iTrader: (17)

I was going to get some longer bolts but coudnt find any so i actually used my headers. I put the chain around the 1 and 2 primaries and i used straps on the 3 and 4 just in case I messes up my headers, but they didnt even bend a little bit.

69dodgecharger

Cool, thanks for the tips everyone.

Z28LS1camaroguy

iTrader: (3)

hmm i figured it would pull on them to much lol, but thats a good place to put them since its just holding it in place.

Z28LS1camaroguy

iTrader: (3)

and hell why im doing that i might aswell change the motor mounts.

Viper

iTrader: (6)

Yes you should at that point, you're right there.

Z28LS1camaroguy

iTrader: (3)

so did you also drop the kmember jrpimp00??? or did you jsut jack up the engine as far as you could and it came out that way??

joblo1978

iTrader: (14)

There's a special alignment tool for the pan, as well as the front cover.

jrpimp00

iTrader: (17)

I dropped the K member or actually I lowered it, I removed all 6 bolts and then lowered it with a jack until I was able to get the jack out. (My repair manual says only loosen the bolts 5 turns and remove the pan, but I couldnt get it out.

Z28LS1camaroguy

iTrader: (3)

could you see the motor mounts really well when you had the pan down?? and are the pan bolts all the same or are there different lengths???

tripblackls1

iTrader: (11)

this is kinda scary to me your header bolts are pretty small to relay on
i usally bolt into the side of the head when using this technic , but thats not that easy on these cars so i put a jack underneth the bellhoseing of the trans to hold the motor up and that worked fine for me

to be on the safe side i would use the jack on the bellhousing and the straps on the headers

tripblackls1

iTrader: (11)

you can get to the motor mounts really easy once you drop the k

as far as pan bolts i belive there all the same except two which are like 6 inchs long