I recently replaced the rear main seal and the oil pan gasket on my 65 El camino. The leak in the rear stoped. But now I have a leak in the front where the timing chain cover and oil pan come together. I was reading something in a book that says there are two different types of oil pan gaskets for the front rubber peice. A thick one and a thin one. THey said to identify If your car needs the thicker one take a feller gauge when holding the pan tightly in place and try stick it past the front rubber peice on the oil pan gasket. My oil pan was on and siliconed in place but i decided to try it anyways. The gauge went through. I put some silicone in the crack so I could drive the garage.
TO get to the point I need to know if my cruck (car truck) needs the thick gasket or if I already do. MY motor is a 350 from 69-79 casting number 3970010. I went to Kragen and they sold me a gasket which says "IMportant: if oil pan has been replaced by OEM no. 360010, 3604049 or 4652211 ising 3/8 thick oil pan front seal use OS 5197 c-s" NOW im just confused. Any HELP PLEASE?

This one has tripped up a bunch of us GN. It all depends on what pan you are using. If it is an early pan pre 74, you will use the thin seal. later ones use the thick seal. My advise is to get rid of those 4 pc seals and go with 1 piece seal. It is the only way to go!! rb6667 tongue.gif

How can I Identify my pan?

This is from Unclepennybags:

Here is the acid test:

Measure from the flat area of the oil pan (the part that the gasket lays on) to the drop in the front. If it is 2-1/4" use the thin gasket. If it is 2-3/8" use the thick one.

Mike
chris

thanks