Replacing oil pan gasket
 

any tips on how to do this? I have the tranny removed right now so I figured it would be easier while it's out. Whats the best way to get pan, gasket, and sealant off, etc

Dennis

its best to have the front end on jackstands.
place a floor jack in the bellhousing
unbolt the front engine mounts
raise the floor jack
use 1/4 rachet/ 10mm socket to remove the oil pan
10mm wrench to remove the oil pick up tube.

I personally dont use gasket. I just use red silicon. I prefer Mckenna brand. Expensive but holds like a glue.

be sure to drain the oil first, have cardboards on the floor and rags.

Not using a gasket is an interesting suggestion, I have removed my oilpan twice in an attempt to fix seeping oil from the pan without success and it bugs the hell out of me that it still leaks a little, I have done every thing i could think of to fix it but i never thought of ditching the gasket, do you ever experience any leaks with this technique?

No leaks. The key is not to trim the excess silicone until after a week to ensure that its completely dry.

how hard is the old gasket to get off? do I need chemicals?

You should be able to scrape it off with a sharp putty knife. Be sure to clean the hell out of th engine/pan before you put anything back on. Every leak I've had on an engine I've put together has been because I rushed putting the pan on and didn't cleanit with lacquer thinner or another solvent. I'll second using a silicone substance, but I always do it in addition to the gasket(s), just because the baffle in my car doesn't fit perfectly.

If you use silicone, don't torque the bolts down all the way until it's had a chance to "set up". It should say on the tube how long this takes, and wait that long before you torque them to "spec".

As far as doing it easily, hoist the engine as far out of the bay as you can, or remove it completely. It's not a complete pain in the ass if you get it up high enough, but it's a lot more pleasant when you're sitting on your favorite rolling stool doing it rather than laying on your back with oil dripping in your face. ;)