so the time is at hand to replace the oil pan i sliced open in the garage backing the car out for the first time this spring, .....question? if i remove motor mount bolts anf jack engine up can i get enough room the get the pan out, or is engine removal my only option, anybody dont it? its a sb400 in my 71

My "Motor's" manual has a outline of how it can be done. I'd find a copy and review it first but to give you an idea of how....the crank has to be in a certain position...I think it was #6TDC, unbolt the fan, remove the distributor cap, unbolt the motor mounts, and raise the motor and place 3" blocks between the motor and motor mounts and it should come out.

Getting the pan gasket back on during reinstall could be a trick, but nothing that hasn't been done before.

I did this once in a '67 Impala, but not recently. Another part of the trick is to get the oil pan on without knocking the oil pump pick up off. If the pickup was not welded in place, it might be loose enough to knock off. Here's an idea to make it easier to keep the gasket in place during installation. Put a few long pieces of threaded rod in the pan bolt holes to act as guides to keep the gasket from slipping off. Coat the gasket with grease to make it sticky to help hold it in place. You can do this. If you can get this done without cursing, you are a better man than I.

I belive the real question here is ..... do you want it to leak when finished ???Just R&R the motor its not that much more work & you can detail & paint everything while its apart :) I've never done a pan gasket in the car that came out well. :clonk: you can't raise the motor enough without the trans hitting the tunnel so theres not enough room to work.. & yes it is a Pain in the Bu++ my 2ct