Easiest way to remove oil pan?

[Birgle]

X member

For those of you guys that dropped the trans cross member I have a question. How many inches did you drop it to get access to those 2 lousy bolts on the oil pan. I've had the cross member down about 1.5 inches and didn't notice that I had better access to the bolts.

I've never messed with the trans so I guess I'm a little freaked out about lowering it too far and breaking something.

 

[sleepydad]

For those of you guys that dropped the trans cross member I have a question. How many inches did you drop it to get access to those 2 lousy bolts on the oil pan. I've had the cross member down about 1.5 inches and didn't notice that I had better access to the bolts.

I've never messed with the trans so I guess I'm a little freaked out about lowering it too far and breaking something.

I swapped out a trans this last November. I removed the transmission x-member completely and just let it hang. as long as you don't let things just drop your fine. I'm making the assumption your supporting the transmission with a floor jack under the pan to lower things safely.

so if you want the x-member out of the way just remove it.

 

[TheDurk]

Drop the trans crossmember. That will make trans drop. Pull the rear shaft, this will make it easier.

Go from the BACK of the transmission with some LONG extensions.

You can see the two bolts you're looking for. Just go for them.

This is how I did them when I pulled the trans/TC to do my clutch. Just need extensions that reach from the bell bolts all the way to behind the TC so you can swing the ratchet. I never touched the exhaust. HF sells these wobble extensions which are great for this and cheap.
[MENTION=59542]Singtoe[/MENTION] Can you pull the engine with the crossover still on? Because it seems faster to me just to air wrench those three nuts holding the exhaust to the crossover rather than take the manifold off. Just curious, I've pulled the trans but not the motor.

 

[thegipper]

This is how I did them when I pulled the trans/TC to do my clutch. Just need extensions that reach from the bell bolts all the way to behind the TC so you can swing the ratchet. I never touched the exhaust. HF sells these wobble extensions which are great for this and cheap.

[MENTION=59542]Singtoe[/MENTION] Can you pull the engine with the crossover still on? Because it seems faster to me just to air wrench those three nuts holding the exhaust to the crossover rather than take the manifold off. Just curious, I've pulled the trans but not the motor.

When I pulled both my donor motor and my original motor, I just unbolted those 3 bolts on the exhaust and left the crossover pipe on.

I had no issues getting the engines out. Getting the engines back in and lined up (motor mounts), that is a different story. Crossover pipe was never an issue.

 

[fullspeed]

This is good info, sorta leads to another question, if one needs to replace both head gaskets and timing belt, would it be better just to take engine out? It probably takes more than 2 hrs to get engine back in?