Oil Pan Gasket - WTF

[gman72]

So, according to the Hayne's manual on my '94 4WD the oil pan gasket is simply replaced by removing the oil pan bolts, blah blah blah. Yeah, right - if the motor is hanging on a cherry picker in the garage maybe....

After a) ordering my gasket kit b) getting all the steering components out of the way (which I'm rebuilding now so I figured I'd fix the leak at the same time) ..... the conclusion sets in that there is no way physically possible to remove the bolts to the rear of the oil pan without lifting the entire motor out of the rig.

WTF WTF WTF! Am I just missing something or is this the reality here? I guess the only positive note is that my leak MAY not be the oil gasket after further investigation ... perhaps the oil pump seal - not sure yet.

Anybody have any advice on this one?

 

[jhinderliter]

most likely your front seal in your pump...it can be replaced in the truck...just gotta rip off the front of the motor..good time to do the water pump and timing belt as well

 

[Sidney]

Harmonic balancer repair sleeve/speedy sleeve (seal saver sleeve, balancer repair sleeve,crank seal saver) slides over shaft:

Felpro # 16214=$5
Future # 21-2514 (aluminum shaft sleeve included)
NAPA repair sleeve # 99177 (Mack PDC,National,Car Quest)
Pioneer repair sleeve (Silver Seal) # HB-4133

attached with some epoxy or use Loctite 609 or 242 or put some red RTV and fill that groove before you put it on also look in the yellow pages under