Easiest way to change oil pan gasket? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

yotaman96 · 12-25-2011, 02:03 AM

I need to change the oil pan gasket due to a leak. I'm doing a cam swap, so I already have the pan unbolted and the oil pump is off the car. I also sent in my clutch to be inspected, so the trans is out too. The only idea I have right now to lower the pan enough is to use a cherry picker to hold the engine up and then lower the entire cradle some. Will this work? What all will I have to loosen to lower the cradle a bit? Thanks for the help.

MRGOODWRENCH3 · 12-25-2011, 10:59 AM

You can lift the engine up a little and it will come out. You should not have to drop the cradle.

yotaman96 · 12-25-2011, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRGOODWRENCH3

You can lift the engine up a little and it will come out. You should not have to drop the cradle.

So unbolt the motor mounts and lift the engine slightly? I hope the Whipple doesn't cause clearance issues.

MRGOODWRENCH3 · 12-25-2011, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yotaman96

So unbolt the motor mounts and lift the engine slightly? I hope the Whipple doesn't cause clearance issues.

Yes that is how have done it. Not sure on your blower clearance, I think that might limit you. But if the trans is out it should be pretty easy. You will just have to maneuver around the oil pump pick up.

yotaman96 · 12-25-2011, 11:11 AM

I'll give it a shot. Thanks for your help.

yotaman96 · 12-27-2011, 09:06 PM

Well, I've lifted the engine as far as I can without lifting the car off the lift. There's still no way I can get the pan past the pickup tube. Looks like I'm going to have to lower the cradle.

Scourage · 11-14-2013, 06:14 PM

I need to replace my oil pan gasket also, was searching for a little info on dropping the cradle without a lift. Can anyone tell me how far I need to drop it for the pan to clear?

yotaman96 · 11-20-2013, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scourage

I need to replace my oil pan gasket also, was searching for a little info on dropping the cradle without a lift. Can anyone tell me how far I need to drop it for the pan to clear?

I had to lower the cradle as far as possible and jack up the engine. It was still hard to do.

CFD · 11-21-2013, 05:47 AM

recently had to drop my pan and thought it was a lot of unnecessary work so I made my crossmember a bolt on. You can see what I did on pg 6 of my build thread. It may be a solution for you as well.
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=170726

Scourage · 11-21-2013, 07:28 PM

I saw where several had cut the crossmember, I preferred not doing it that way. I got the front of the car up on jacks as high as possible, supported the engine with a sling over the top and a jack under the trans. Not a lot of room to lift the engine without removing the Whipple. Lowered the cradle onto jack stands. Pretty sure I have enough room to drop the pan now.
Wasn't as hard as I expected, going back up with it maybe a different story.

Neumatic · 11-21-2013, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFD

recently had to drop my pan and thought it was a lot of unnecessary work so I made my crossmember a bolt on. You can see what I did on pg 6 of my build thread. It may be a solution for you as well.
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=170726

This is what I was going to do but at the end of a very long day we just welded it back on. They really should have made the damn thing bolt on.

lynxone · 02-10-2014, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neumatic

This is what I was going to do but at the end of a very long day we just welded it back on. They really should have made the damn thing bolt on.

I second that. I made the executive decision to refab and make it bolt on.

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12-25-2011, 02:03 AM	#1
yotaman96 Drives: 2017 Camaro SS1LE 2000 Trans Am WS6 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland, TN Posts: 2,955 View My Garage	Easiest way to change oil pan gasket? I need to change the oil pan gasket due to a leak. I'm doing a cam swap, so I already have the pan unbolted and the oil pump is off the car. I also sent in my clutch to be inspected, so the trans is out too. The only idea I have right now to lower the pan enough is to use a cherry picker to hold the engine up and then lower the entire cradle some. Will this work? What all will I have to loosen to lower the cradle a bit? Thanks for the help. __________________ 2017 Krypton Green SS 1LE Magnacharged 2000 Trans Am WS6 manual trans 2002 Trans Am 2015 Ram Crew Cab Cummins

12-25-2011, 11:11 AM	#5
yotaman96 Drives: 2017 Camaro SS1LE 2000 Trans Am WS6 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland, TN Posts: 2,955 View My Garage	I'll give it a shot. Thanks for your help. __________________ 2017 Krypton Green SS 1LE Magnacharged 2000 Trans Am WS6 manual trans 2002 Trans Am 2015 Ram Crew Cab Cummins

12-27-2011, 09:06 PM	#6
yotaman96 Drives: 2017 Camaro SS1LE 2000 Trans Am WS6 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland, TN Posts: 2,955 View My Garage	Well, I've lifted the engine as far as I can without lifting the car off the lift. There's still no way I can get the pan past the pickup tube. Looks like I'm going to have to lower the cradle. __________________ 2017 Krypton Green SS 1LE Magnacharged 2000 Trans Am WS6 manual trans 2002 Trans Am 2015 Ram Crew Cab Cummins

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12-25-2011, 10:59 AM	#2
MRGOODWRENCH3 Account Suspended Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Park City, Utah Posts: 670 View My Garage	You can lift the engine up a little and it will come out. You should not have to drop the cradle.

11-14-2013, 06:14 PM	#7
Scourage Syntax Error Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SE Nebraska Posts: 557 View My Garage	I need to replace my oil pan gasket also, was searching for a little info on dropping the cradle without a lift. Can anyone tell me how far I need to drop it for the pan to clear?

11-21-2013, 05:47 AM	#9
CFD Drives: 2SS/RS L99 BLACK Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Franklin , MA Posts: 6,696	recently had to drop my pan and thought it was a lot of unnecessary work so I made my crossmember a bolt on. You can see what I did on pg 6 of my build thread. It may be a solution for you as well. http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=170726

11-21-2013, 07:28 PM	#10
Scourage Syntax Error Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SE Nebraska Posts: 557 View My Garage	I saw where several had cut the crossmember, I preferred not doing it that way. I got the front of the car up on jacks as high as possible, supported the engine with a sling over the top and a jack under the trans. Not a lot of room to lift the engine without removing the Whipple. Lowered the cradle onto jack stands. Pretty sure I have enough room to drop the pan now. Wasn't as hard as I expected, going back up with it maybe a different story.