Oil pan gasket.
 

I have an 84 gsl-se with a 12a. The oil pan gasket on my car needs to be changed, i have a few questions since i am new to cars. Someone told me just to use gasket maker (blue stuff), will that work? Say i decide to get the gasket, could i just jack the car up, drain the oil and do it myself? Anything i should look out for?

Make sure its not leaking from somewhere else off the engine.
You will need to remove the pan complete from the car in order to clean off the mating surface prior to re-installing. Since I do this when the motor is outside the car, i can not remember if the pan will clear the steering linkage.
My opinion about gaskets in a tube, DON'T do it, but the right oil pan gasket, you can use a thin layer of RTV (silcone gasket maker)(black hides best) to both sides of the gasket

Do not over torque the oil pan bolts. I use a 1/4" ratchet with about 15-20 lbs of torque, but verify that with the shop manual.

John

thx alot, i hope it's not leaking from anywhere else.