The Party Wagon engine swap thread

[Petros]

I do not care for cork either, but I have used them. you just have to tighten all the bolts real evenly and not very tight, or you risk splitting it. All the leaky pan gaskets I have seen are cork, someone overtightend them and damaged it. I have also used a thick silicone layer, but there is a risk of swiping some of it off, or squeezing it into the oil sump, when installing it. I have "glued" the cork to the oil pan side, and than used none hardening sealant on the engine side so it will stay in place when installing it, and to make it easier to remove later.

[irowiki]

Ran into a snag getting the oil pan off.

The entire thing is attached with some sort of sealant, and is basically glued on. Can't get a screw driver in between it, can't even get a razor blade! Any ideas?

[dlb]

don't pry on an oil pan unless it comes off really easily. they are easy to bend but hard to get straight again.

when they are stuck on really good, i tap on the sides of it with a rubber- or plastic-faced mallet. it eventually gives.

[Petros]

Use a heat gun and an old butter knife as a chisel (sharpen the tip if necessary), once you get it over half way "cut loose" it will get easier. likely you will have to bend the flange on the pan back to shape, use a flat surface (Like a counter top) to check for flatness, bend or file as necessary. You can even tape down some sand paper and get it flat when you have it close to flat by bending it.

[irowiki]

How hard do I tap? I was giving it some good raps with a soft blow hammer but was worried of damaging something.

[dlb]

it's hard to describe how hard to tap something but i'll say fairly hard. do it on the lowest, angled part of the pan. the angled parts are stronger and less likely to deform, and hitting it as far away from the flange as possible will give your blows the most leverage. don't hit the flat parts, they'll dent immediately.

[marlinh]

Paul, you want to try to cut that sealant with a razor knife or something thin that won't deform the pan too much. It is very time consuming to try to get it apart. Start at one edge and work the knife in slowly to cut into the sealant. If you work carefully on one side until you can slip a few putty knives along the edge you should be able to 'break' the seal and start working it loose. If you get an opening large enough to finally start a putty knife you can tap it in with a hammer. So hard to describe in words. It is doable without bending the pan, just requires patience, and sharp thin tools.

[marlinh]

Paul, what is the part number and brand of rubber oil pan gasket you got? My local parts store can only find cork.

[irowiki]

Mine is cork too. I never ended up getting a rubber one.

Looking at rockauto, I'm not even sure they have rubber ones either!

[Petros]

A sharpened putty knife is a great tool for removing the pan, also cutting around the edge with a box cutter knife as Marline suggest is an excellent idea. Make several passes all the way around (you will not beable to at the rear if it is still in the car or attached to the trans), than use a chisel at the front and work it in, and work your way around.

You will never get it off by pounding on it if it was glued on with RTV, you will bend the pan up first. you have to cut the sealant at least part way, and than pound on it. Once it is broken free at one end the rest will pry off, or you can cut it off, much eaiser without distortion to the pan. I prefer to cut gasket/sealant with a knife or sharp chisel and than pry once I get a gap, rather than pound on it. though I do pound on the head to break it loose (but much less chance of bending the head), I do not pound on thin parts like the oil pan and valve cover however (tapping or hitting with the open palm is okay on these however).

[dlb]

that's weird, the oil pans i have removed that had RTV sealant on them rather than gaskets came off quite easily with just a few taps with a rubber mallet.

[irowiki]

Whoever rebuilt this engine totally overkilled it, I think it is stronger than RTV...

Imagine any spot where there was a seal or gasket, they used this same RTV stuff. It's been fun taking the engine apart.

[marlinh]

Some of the stuff I've seen on an oil pan is almost impossible to remove. It's much stronger than RTV.

[irowiki]

Thankfully my contact from Sunvalley New and Used Tercel Parts plus Snowplowing Inc has a line on another oil pan if I ruin this one.

[Petros]

sounds like they used adhesive rather than gasket sealer. That is why you should always use the correct stuff!