As part of cleaning up the oil system, I need to drop the oil pan with the engine in the car. Any tips? The frame crosses under the pan, making appear that I may need to lift the engine. I was thinking that after the top end is installed, I'd use my cherry picker to hoist it up and lossen the motor mounts. Any ideas would help.
Would be nice to know your name, but here goes anyway. !st. you either need to remove the pitman arm from the steering box or the center link from the pitman arm. I prefer the pitman arm as the pickle fork will damage the seal on the center link. Go to Auto Zone & rent a pitman arm puller. Will take 10 minutes this way. You will also need a 1 5/16ths. socket or wrench to remove the pitman arm nut, it's tight. Remove the two 9/16ths. bolts & nuts securing the idler arm to the frame & let the whole assembly hang. If you have a schroud you will either have to remove the fan blade or the schroud. There are four bolts holding the motor to the mounts, 9/16ths. Two each side top & bottom. Tops can be removed from the top so you might want to do this before you jack up the car. If you have A/C you may need to remove the distributor cap & rotor so it won't come in contact with parts & crack. Do it anyway, just in case. Just lay them off to the side all wires attached. Next, jack up the engine. Watch the lower radiator hose, it may be short & as you are jacking up the motor it could pull the neck off the radiator. Support the motor with wood blocks between the frame & mounts. Wouldn't want the motor to drop while your working, could hurt. Remove the trans converter cover. Remove pan bolts & remove pan. A rubber mallet may be nec. to loosen the pan or pry carefully with a screwdriver to break the bond. Would make life eaisier if you had a 1/4" drive socket set with a universal for one bolt on each side, but not really nec. Tom T.
